Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 March 2023

Pupils arrive at school happy and smiling. They are cared for by the staff and feel safe. They enjoy their learning. The school's values of discover, value, celebrate and praise are apparent in all aspects of school life. Pupils are respectful and friendly to each other and to adults. Pupils behave well. They know what is expected of them. Their learning is rarely dis- turbed by others' behaviour. Bullying is rare. Pupils agree this is the case, but there are occasional acts of unkindness. Teachers deal with these quickly. Pupils enjoy studying a broad and balanced curriculum. They respond well to teach- ers' high expectations and try to do the best they can. Pupils achieve well. Pupils are proud of their school. They are encouraged to take on leadership roles. They can join the eco or school councils. They are excited about the outdoor learn- ing opportunities. The expressive arts are a feature of the school. Pupils enjoy their musical experi- ences. Visits to the local church at Christmas and Easter help them become confi- dent in musical performance. Parents are positive about the work of leaders and staff. They would recommend the school to other parents.

What the school should improve

• Some subject leaders are new to their role. In a small number of subjects, these leaders have not identified precisely the subject knowledge that pupils need to learn or the order in which it should be taught. As a result, teachers do not always plan learning activities that build effectively on pupils' previous learning. Leaders need to ensure that subject leaders have precisely identified the knowledge that pupils should learn and the order in which the subject content is taught in all subjects, so that teachers plan lessons that help pupils build on previous learning more quickly and efficiently.

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