Earl Spencer Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 February 2025

Earl Spencer pupils are friendly and welcoming. They try hard to live up to the high expectations for their behaviour. They listen attentively to their teachers. They are polite and proudly show off their 'smart walking' in the corridors. They are kind and play respectfully on the playground. The school provides a very supportive environment for learning. Pupils' mental health and well-being are a priority. 'Wally the Well-being Whale' and the 'well-being warriors' remind everyone how important this is. Pupils choose how they want to be greeted as they arrive at school each day. Staff use this opportunity to check how pupils are feeling. They ensure that pupils receive extra support to feel happy and secure when needed. Pupils benefit from a range of leadership opportunities. They learn to be responsible and contribute positively to school life. The school council successfully proposed a tuck shop. They ensure that the playground equipment is accessed fairly. Sports ambassadors help organise sporting fixtures. Language ambassadors are proud to welcome new pupils and parents and carers to the country and the school. They support the new arrivals with translation. The school is ambitious for pupils' achievement. Recent changes to the curriculum are enabling pupils to achieve better outcomes.

What the school should improve

• In some recently reviewed subjects, the processes for checking pupils' learning are not fully established yet. This means gaps in pupils' knowledge are sometimes not identified. The school should ensure the processes for checking pupils' knowledge are clear and the gaps in their knowledge are addressed effectively.
• Recent improvements in teaching the curriculum, including in the early years, are not fully embedded yet. Occasionally, important vocabulary is not emphasised clearly enough, and over time, there have been insufficient opportunities for pupils to revisit prior learning. There are insecurities in pupils' learning as a result. The school should embed the improvements to ensure the curriculum is taught consistently well.
• Not all staff have sufficient expertise in adapting the curriculum to meet the needs of pupils, particularly for pupils with SEND. Curriculum adaptations largely rely on adult support. This means pupils do not learn with independence or build knowledge as successfully as they could. The school should ensure all staff have the expertise to adapt the curriculum effectively in order to meet the needs of pupils.

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