Debden Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 June 2023

'Be kind, be brave, be safe, behave' is Debden CofE Primary Academy's motto. Pupils know it and live it out every day. They are happy and safe at school. Bullying is not tolerated and rarely happens. Pupils help each other sort out disagreements. They play together harmoniously in their free time. There is a respectful and inclusive culture throughout the school. Pupils value and celebrate difference. New pupils who join the school quickly become part of the school community. From Reception to Year 6, pupils listen well to adults. They understand the adults' high expectations of their learning and behaviour. As a result, they work hard in lessons. Pupils are confident and resilient. They say that mistakes are 'ok' because they learn from them. Pupils enjoy the many trips that enhance their learning. They particularly enjoyed the whole-school trip to Colchester Zoo where they learned about endangered animals. Pupils of all ages participate in a wide range of sporting activities. They compete, often successfully, against other schools locally and further afield. Extra- curricular clubs offer pupils the chance to develop their talents beyond the classroom. These include robotics, photography, cross-stitch and boot camp.

What the school should improve

• There is some variation in the quality of pupils' written work in the foundation subjects. In a few subjects, teachers do not give pupils opportunities to apply their learning, or to revisit prior learning, through recorded activities. This means they may not be embedding knowledge and skills as securely as they might. Leaders should build on the good practice they have established in other subjects to ensure pupils' learning and progress are fully reflected through their work across the whole curriculum.

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