Cooper and Jordan Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 5 June 2024

There is a real sense of belonging at Cooper and Jordan School. The school's values of friendship, forgiveness, compassion, endurance, fellowship and respect are exemplified by staff and pupils alike. This enables pupils to feel happy and safe. Pupils describe the school as a special place where 'everyone knows and cares about you'. Pupils enjoy learning and apply themselves well. Because of this, they achieve well. They talk enthusiastically about their lessons and the new skills they are developing. For example, in art, pupils paid careful attention to shading and toning to create a 3D effect. The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour. Pupils' good attendance and punctuality are promoted and supported by the school. In lessons and in the playground, pupils are cooperative, respectful and keen to do their best. These high expectations are understood by pupils of all ages. Even the youngest children manage themselves well. They take care of the resources they use and play with. Wider responsibilities and opportunities help pupils to develop their talents and leadership skills. These include a junior leadership team, worship council, eco-council and sports leaders. Pupils' learning is also extended through a wide variety of trips and visits, some of which are residential. They also enjoy opportunities to learn musical instruments, including violins and trumpets. Pupils value these experiences.

What the school should improve

• Although much of the curriculum is taught to a high standard, there are some inconsistencies in teachers' use of assessment in some subjects. In addition, a few staff are less confident teaching reading to those pupils who have fallen behind. As a result, some pupils do not learn as well as others. The school should ensure that the good practice is shared and built on so that the quality of education is of the same consistently high standard across the school.
• The school's strategy for securing the best possible outcomes for disadvantaged pupils is not as well thought out and effective as it should be. As a result, some disadvantaged pupils do not achieve as well as their peers. The school should ensure that there is a cohesive, comprehensive strategy that all staff understand so all disadvantaged pupils achieve well.
• Sometimes, the school does not analyse information sufficiently well to evaluate the effectiveness of its actions and form future plans. This means that leaders do not identify some of the emerging issues about the school's performance and put in place appropriate actions. The school should take a more systematic and strategic approach to its use of information to help spot and resolve any potential weaknesses in the school's provision.

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