Dunmow St Mary's Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 27 June 2023

The high expectations set at Dunmow St Mary's Primary School for behaviour and learning are met by pupils. The curriculum that pupils experience is established in most subjects. Where this is the case, pupils enjoy their learning and achieve well. Pupils are well supported in their reading and have an enthusiasm for sharing books. Pupils forge respectful relationships. Pupils know what it means to be a good friend. As a result, incidents of bullying are rare. When they do occur, leaders do not tolerate it. Pupils know that adults can help them if they have any worries. All pupils receive the support they need to access school life. Most pupils behave well. They interact with kindness, playing games well with each other at breaktimes. All pupils feel welcome. One pupil said, 'we don't judge anyone here'. As a result, pupils are happy and safe. Pupils value the wider opportunities they are given. They develop a sense of responsibility through a range of opportunities, including the 'pupil voice' group. There are a wide range of clubs and competitions. Pupils benefit from an interesting range of trips which complement what they learn, including to the local river and Hindu temple.

What the school should improve

• In a few areas of the curriculum, leaders have not made clear the knowledge and vocabulary that pupils should learn in precise enough detail. Therefore, teachers are not always clear on which knowledge is critical to future learning. This means that pupils do not develop a detailed body of knowledge as they do in other subjects. Leaders should identify the key knowledge and vocabulary across the curriculum.
• On occasion, learning activities are not specifically planned to focus on the key knowledge pupils need to learn. Pupils often remember the experience or activity but not what they need to learn. When this happens, pupils do not deepen their knowledge over time. Leaders should ensure staff receive training on how to effectively design activities that enable pupils to learn the important knowledge they need to achieve consistently well.

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