Dene House Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 March 2022

Dene House Primary School is a happy, caring school where everyone is welcome. Leaders have a clear vision of putting children first in every decision. Leaders make pupils' physical and mental health a priority, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This focus ensures that the needs of each pupil are catered for, leading to a calm and purposeful learning environment. Leaders and staff are ambitious for every pupil. They have high expectations for pupils' behaviour and learning. Pupils' behaviour in lessons and around school is good. They have excellent attitudes to learning. Relationships are a real strength of the school. There is very little bullying. If pupils are worried, they know that staff will help them. In early years, children have time to talk through their feelings. Leaders want all pupils to 'Aspire, Achieve, Smile' and be involved in every aspect of school life. Pupils enjoy visits to the local area and opportunities to learn about the wider world. They are encouraged to take part in extra-curricular activities.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, leaders and teachers do not have a precise knowledge of how well pupils know and remember the taught curriculum. This means that teachers do not know if pupils have acquired secure foundations for future learning. Leaders should ensure that systems are in place in all subjects to enable staff to check how well pupils are remembering the intended curriculum.
• Some subject leaders who are new to their roles have had limited training and expertise in leading their subjects. They lack the expertise to check precisely how well pupils are learning the curriculum. Leaders should ensure they provide high- quality training for new subject leaders to enable them to carry out their roles effectively.

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