Chelsfield Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 December 2024

Pupils enjoy attending this small, friendly school. The school's values of kindness, unity and ambition are demonstrated by pupils on a day-to-day basis. This begins in Reception, where children quickly learn routines and settle well into school life. Relationships between adults and children are warm and nurturing. Many pupils describe the school as being like a family. The school has undergone a period of change recently. Most stakeholders say that they think the school is 'on the up', although they recognise that there is more work to do. The school is working hard to improve its broad and ambitious curriculum. Some changes have already had a positive impact, for example in the teaching of phonics. Other changes to the curriculum are still in development. However, leaders have high expectations of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Because of this, pupils learn well overall. Pupils are excited about the new roles and responsibilities that are available to them. Many pupils have joined the school council. It is working towards an 'eco-award' for the school. Some older pupils run the school's healthy tuck shop. They have used the profits to buy playground equipment. Other pupils have organised 'Chelsfield's Got Talent' and the 'Fun Friday Club'. Pupils also produce a regular school newspaper.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, the school has not, at present, decided on the key knowledge that pupils must learn and the order in which they should learn it. As a result, sometimes pupils' knowledge is not developed in a progressive manner. The school should develop the curriculum in those subjects more fully in order to ensure that pupils' learning deepens as the school intends and pupils remember detailed knowledge in the long term.
• Subject and subject pedagogical knowledge is still being developed in some subjects. As a result, the curriculum is not implemented in classrooms as effectively as it could be. The school should build on its existing work to ensure that there is strong expertise in how to implement the curriculum effectively.
• At times, pupils' learning is not checked carefully. This means that teaching sometimes moves on before pupils have fully understood what they are learning. The school should ensure that teaching uses effective checks to ensure that pupils have a secure knowledge and understanding of their learning.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)