Cirencester Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 March 2022

Cirencester Primary School is a friendly and inclusive place to learn. Pupils are happy and proud of their school. They speak positively about the care, guidance and support they receive from staff. Older pupils are typically courteous and respectful to each other and to adults. They set a good example for younger children. Leaders have raised expectations of pupils' learning and behaviour. Staff expect pupils to behave sensibly in lessons, and they do. At social times, pupils enjoy activities to keep them physically active, such as games on the field, or reading in the inviting library. Pupils feel safe in school. They say that bullying and unkind behaviour does not happen often, but staff sort it out quickly when it does. Through a carefully constructed curriculum, leaders plan 'experience days' to raise pupils' aspirations about possible future career paths. As a result, many aspire to be engineers, authors or architects. Year 6 pupils enjoy learning about responsibility by taking on 'assembly leader' and 'infant helper' roles. Leaders promote fundamental British values alongside the school values. Pupils learn the importance of respecting everyone, regardless of difference. They understand right from wrong. Staff encourage pupils to celebrate diversity and value uniqueness.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum is not consistently adapted well enough to support pupils' precise needs, including pupils with SEND. This means that some pupils struggle to connect new learning to what they already know as they move through sequences of work. Leaders need to ensure that teaching builds on what pupils already know and helps them to make sense of new learning.
• In subjects other than English and mathematics, leaders are developing the use of assessment. Not all subject leaders know what pupils do well and where they need to improve in all year groups. Leaders need to secure the use of assessment, so they know how well pupils learn and remember the intended curriculum.

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