Curry Mallet Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 October 2024

Pupils feel safe and happy at this school. Adults care for them well. This starts in the early years. Staff establish routines from the very beginning. Children, including two-year-olds in the pre-school, quickly feel comfortable in their new surroundings. Pupils behave well in lessons. The school has high expectations for its pupils. This includes those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils rise to these expectations. By the time pupils leave key stage 2, they achieve well in national tests. They are well prepared for the next stage of their education. The school has a well-considered personal development programme. The school's Christian ethos underpins much of this work. Visitors to assemblies discuss moral issues with pupils. This helps pupils to become caring and compassionate citizens. They raise money for good causes. For example, pupils helped to raise money for a bike shelter. Pupils' knowledge of the curriculum is enhanced through a range of trips. This includes visits to museums and art galleries. Pupils pursue their talents and interests through opportunities such as art and nature clubs. The school has recently improved how it communicates with parents and carers. This has helped families to feel more connected to the school's work.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum in the early years does not account for recent changes to the pre- school provision. As a result, staff are not clear enough about how learning connects with children's prior knowledge. This means that children do not build on their prior learning well enough. The school should ensure that all parts of the pre-school curriculum are well considered so that children build well on their prior knowledge and are fully prepared for the start of the Reception Year.
• The school has not fully established systems of checking how successfully pupils remember the key knowledge in some subjects. Consequently, staff are not able to address gaps in knowledge. Pupils' recall of some prior learning is not secure. The school should ensure that there are effective systems of checking how well pupils are learning and that this information is used to ensure that any gaps in knowledge are addressed.

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