Colgate Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 March 2023

Leaders are ambitious for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils are enthusiastic in lessons. They rise to the challenges set by their teachers. Pupils demonstrate high levels of motivation. They are interested in what they are learning because teachers support and guide them to do their best. They know that teachers want them to achieve well. Staff have high expectations for pupils' behaviour. These expectations are commonly understood by pupils, and this is reflected in their positive behaviour and conduct. Pupils are polite and considerate towards each other, staff and visitors to the school. They work and play nicely together. They know that they should be kind to each other. As a result, bullying is rare. The school's learning values of community, diversity and growth are the 'golden threads' that run through the heart of the school. Pupils know why these values are important to school life. They learn about different cultures, traditions and religions, are respectful of each other and celebrate difference. One parent said, 'Leaders and teachers really do care about the children. Community spirit is a strong value here at Colgate Primary School.'

What the school should improve

• Not all teachers adapt the curriculum so that it meets the needs of all pupils closely enough. Leaders need to ensure that the curriculum is sufficiently adapted to enable all pupils to achieve well from their different starting points. This will provide pupils with better opportunities to deepen and consolidate their knowledge and understanding across all curriculum subjects.
• Systems for assessment are not as strong in some subjects as they are in others. Where this is the case, teachers are not as sure about how well pupils are learning. Leaders must sharpen their expectation for assessment procedures and ensure that all teachers are clear about what needs to be done and when. This will enable teachers to check if pupils are falling behind and plan what they need to learn next.

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