Downview Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 October 2024

Pupils are very happy at school. They describe the school as kind and welcoming. Of the school's values 'respect' is particularly important to pupils, who are proud to help each other to be part of the community. Pupils feel safe and remember what they have been taught about staying healthy. Pupils know who to talk to if they have concerns. While pupils say that bullying sometimes happens, they are certain that it would be quickly and effectively dealt with. Pupils' behaviour in lessons and around the school is very good. The school's expectations of behaviour are high but kindly enforced. Clear routines help pupils know how to behave. Children in early years carefully practise 'quiet walking' on the way to lunch or physical education activities. Older pupils are sensible and thoughtful towards each other in classrooms and when moving around the school. Pupils of all ages enjoy talking about their learning. While the school recognises that pupils have not achieved previously as well as they should, there is a clear ambition to ensure current pupils do achieve well. Pupils respond positively to this, with one describing the best thing about the school is 'my day is filled with fun lessons'.

What the school should improve

• Pupils do not achieve as well as they should in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of key stage 2. This means they are not sufficiently ready for the next stage of their education. The school should continue to develop ambitious reading, writing and mathematics curriculums and high-quality teaching for all pupils.
• In some subjects, leaders have not yet precisely set out the detail and sequence of knowledge that pupils need to learn. This means important aspects of pupils' knowledge do not always build sequentially. Furthermore, teachers can find it more difficult to identify and correct pupils' knowledge gaps. The school should ensure that the curriculum in all subjects precisely sets out the knowledge pupils need to learn and when they need to learn it.
• Pupils with SEND do not benefit as much as they should from planned intervention and adaptation in lessons. This means they are not always helped to make as much progress as possible. The school must ensure that teaching and adaption for pupils with SEND is of consistently high quality and frequently checked for impact.

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