Cherry Tree Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 July 2025

Pupils are respectful, safe and ready to learn as a result of the school's rules, which set clear expectations. These are typically followed by pupils in class and around school. Pupils benefit from a broad, planned curriculum, which starts strongly in early years. Children's early education gives them an excellent start. However, pupils' learning experience is not as positive as they move through the school. Too many pupils leave this school not academically prepared for their next stage of education. Pupils behave well in class. Classrooms are generally calm, orderly and conducive to learning. While bullying does on occasion take place, pupils have every confidence that staff deal with it quickly and effectively. Trained pupil anti-bullying ambassadors are on hand to settle more minor disagreements. Pupil leadership roles are wide and varied. Pupils are proud to act as house captains, eco councillors and school councillors. These pupils are starting to have an active and valued voice in school life. Trips are now very much back on the agenda at this school. Visits to places such as the Tate Modern and Royal Opera House in London excite and engage pupils. These opportunities give pupils memorable experiences they might not be able to access elsewhere.

What the school should improve

• Teachers do not assess pupils' learning effectively at times. This means learning is not routinely checked to ensure pupils are supported or moved on in their learning in a timely manner. It also means gaps in knowledge are not always addressed. The school and trust need to further support teachers with their responsive assessment strategies so they can adapt learning to meet the needs of different pupils more effectively.
• Middle leaders have not been given the necessary support and time to monitor and improve their subjects in an effective way. This means they do not have a clear understanding of the key areas of improvement needed within their subjects. The school, with the support of the trust, should work closely with subject leaders to improve their knowledge and increase their capacity to lead improvements in their subject areas.
• Too many pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, do not attend school regularly enough. This means they miss important learning. These pupils do not achieve as well as they could. The school needs to continue to refine and evaluate their approaches to managing and promoting attendance so these pupils attend school more regularly.

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