Coleman Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 5 November 2024

Pupils enjoy attending Coleman Primary School. They have positive relationships with teachers and other staff. Pupils understand the school's four simple rules and adhere to them. Pupils feel safe and happy here. The school develops pupils to be accepting of others. Pupils enjoy celebrating and learning about different cultures and faiths. One pupil summed up the view of many when he said, 'Although there are many nationalities in this school, we all know we are a part of one school community.' Pupils show positive attitudes to learning. Pupils behave well. They are keen to talk about the activities they have undertaken and what they have learned. The school has high expectations of pupils' learning. However, the quality of teaching is still too variable for pupils and children to achieve as well as they should. The school ensures that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language (EAL) get the help they need to access the curriculum. A larger proportion of parents and carers would recommend this school than previously. Parents recognise that the school is improving.

What the school should improve

• The teaching of reading, writing and mathematics is not as effective as it could be. Some pupils do not achieve as well as they should in reading, writing and mathematics. The school must further embed a consistent and effective pedagogical approach across these areas of the curriculum, maintaining a focus on pupils' achievement at all stages of education.
• Some teachers do not use the curriculum information provided to teach foundation subjects well. These teachers do not consider well enough exactly what they want pupils to know and/or the learning pupils have missed in previous years. As a result, some pupils do not develop detailed knowledge and have gaps in their knowledge. The school should ensure that teachers use available curriculum information and the training they have received to design activities that will support pupils to develop the knowledge which is identified in the school's curriculum.
• There are too many occasions when activities do not help children to learn the curriculum. Children in the Reception Year do not consistently benefit from meaningful learning opportunities. The school should ensure that activities in the Reception Year are matched to the early years curriculum and used effectively by all adults so that children can partake in meaningful learning and develop across all areas of learning.
• The school should continue to develop the capacity of some subject leaders through professional development, so they are better equipped to accurately monitor and evaluate the impact of the curriculum.

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