Cookham Rise Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 June 2026

Pupils are proud to be part of this inclusive and welcoming school community. They describe the school as a place where everyone is valued and where kindness is evident in everyday interactions. Pupils feel safe and know that adults will listen to and help them if they have any worries. They understand how to keep themselves safe, including online. Pupils say that bullying is rare and are confident that staff deal with any concerns quickly and effectively. As a result, they feel secure and develop positive relationships with both adults and their peers. Pupils attend school regularly and are happy to be there. They behave well in lessons and around the school, showing respect for others and positive attitudes to learning. Classrooms are calm and purposeful, enabling pupils to focus on their work. Social times are harmonious and engaging and pupils participate enthusiastically in a wide range of activities, including imaginative play, construction and creative activities. These opportunities help pupils to play cooperatively, develop friendships and enjoy being active. Pupils, including children in the early years, enjoy learning and engage enthusiastically with the wide range of experiences the school provides. Many speak confidently about what they have learned and how their knowledge has developed over time. Pupils contribute readily in lessons and approach learning with confidence. Most pupils achieve well and are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Leaders work effectively to identify and reduce barriers to learning, enabling disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to participate fully in school life. However, disadvantaged pupils do not always achieve as well as other pupils over time, particularly where gaps in knowledge are not addressed quickly enough. Pupils benefit from a rich range of experiences beyond the classroom. They take part in clubs, visits, performances and leadership opportunities with enthusiasm and pride. These experiences help pupils build confidence, develop their interests and strengthen the sense of community that characterises the school.

What the school should improve

• Leaders need to further develop staff's expertise to address gaps and misconceptions so that pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, achieve highly.
• Leaders should ensure that teaching supports pupils to build consistently on their early letter-formation skills to help them secure fluent, accurate and legible handwriting.
• Leaders should ensure that in early years, continuous provision is consistently well organised and that adults use high-quality interactions to extend learning, particularly for disadvantaged children, so that all children achieve the intended curriculum outcomes.

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