Colwall CofE Primary School and Nursery

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 15 February 2023

The staff and pupils of Colwall CofE Primary School welcome everyone. Staff have created a calm and purposeful atmosphere. Staff know pupils as individuals. Pupils come to school happy, feeling safe and ready to learn. They know that they can talk to an adult if they have any concerns. Staff resolve any disagreements, including any potential bullying issues, between pupils promptly. Leaders have high expectations. They have planned an ambitious curriculum where learning builds upon what pupils can already do. Pupils study a good range of subjects and learn well. They particularly enjoy creative work. Teachers are skilled at adapting the work for pupils, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Across the school, pupils behave well in lessons. They concentrate on their work, listen to their teachers and work well together. They become articulate. Pupils treat each other and adults with respect. At social times, they make effective use of the playground equipment. Pupils have many opportunities to take on responsibility, for example as directors or school councillors. School trips, such as to the nearby car factory, help them to put their learning into context. Pupils enjoy and benefit from a range of extra-curricular activities, particularly in music. Some are preparing to sing in a concert. Pupils take part in competitive fixtures in a wide range of sports.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have not ensured that all staff deliver the phonics programme consistently well, for example identifying individual misconceptions and modelling the formation of letters. As a result, some pupils do not always receive the quality of support that they should. Leaders should ensure that all staff are fully trained in all aspects of phonics teaching, and that they put that training to consistently good use.
• Recent changes in the leadership of the school have meant that subject leaders have had only occasional opportunities to monitor how the subject that they lead is being implemented. They are therefore not in the best position to support their colleagues. Senior leaders should make sure that subject leaders have regular opportunities to check on the implementation of different subjects to enable them to make further refinements to the curriculum and to provide staff with additional guidance.

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