Cobden Primary School & Community Centre

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 January 2025

Cobden Primary is a welcoming and friendly school where pupils are celebrated for their individuality. Pupils arrive at school with an eagerness to learn. The new school values are beginning to help pupils to be 'resilient, proud, caring and ambitious'. Pupils feel safe in school. The school has recently reviewed its behaviour policy. Subsequent changes have been positive but are at an early stage of implementation. The school recognises that there is more to do to ensure that expectations of behaviour are always made clear to pupils. The school aspires for its pupils to achieve well. Actions to improve some aspects of the curriculum have been effective. However, pupils do not learn as well as they could in other areas. The school is taking action to ensure the whole curriculum is well designed and clearly sequenced. Pupils talk proudly about their leadership roles, including as sports leaders and school councillors. These help to develop pupils' sense of responsibility. Pupils learn about future opportunities and careers. Right from the early years, the school has budding hairdressers and vets. While pupils learn about important fundamental British values, their knowledge and understanding of these are limited. Pupils are not prepared fully for life in modern Britain.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the school has not identified the key knowledge that pupils should learn from early years to Year 6. This hinders teachers in designing learning that helps pupils build their knowledge over time. The school should ensure the key knowledge in all subjects is identified so staff are clear about what pupils should learn and how and when it should be taught.
• Checks on pupils' knowledge and understanding in some subjects are in the very early stages. As a result, misconceptions and gaps in pupils' knowledge are sometimes not identified or rectified. When this happens, pupils struggle to recall their learning. The school should ensure staff implement the curriculum effectively in each subject and check pupils have secured the intended knowledge.
• Expectations of pupils' behaviour and attitudes are not consistently high during the school day. Some pupils do not show respect to their peers and staff in school. This hinders pupils' learning and their enjoyment of social times. The school should ensure that new systems to manage pupils' behaviour continue to impact their conduct and attitudes positively.
• Some pupils do not attend school as often as they should. They are missing out on vital learning and opportunities to socialise with their peers. The school should continue to review the impact of its recent work to improve attendance and implement further improvements so pupils attend well.
• Pupils' knowledge and understanding of British values are not secure. They are not as well prepared for life beyond the local community as they could be. The school should ensure that pupils' knowledge and understanding of British values are embedded fully so pupils are prepared well for life in modern Britain.

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