Garfield Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 October 2024

The school's motto, 'Today's children, tomorrow's future', is deeply embedded in the daily experience of all pupils and staff. Pupils are welcomed with kindness and care. Their cultures, along with the variety of languages that they speak, are celebrated regularly, promoting a fully inclusive school environment. Pupils are rightly proud of their diverse backgrounds, which contribute to a rich learning community. Pupils particularly enjoy their involvement in the school parliament, where they gain valuable insight into important social responsibilities. They participate in activities that promote leadership and decision-making, which fosters their understanding of fundamental British values. Pupils also enjoy collaborating on projects that benefit their school community, for example litter picking. This hands-on engagement nurtures essential values, like empathy, democracy, equality, inspiration, and care for the environment. Pupils understand their rights and responsibilities. They show kindness, respect and consideration towards adults and their peers. In early years, children are inquisitive and engage happily in cooperative play. Classrooms are calm, and pupils work purposefully during their lessons. This is because leaders have high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). As a result, pupils achieve well and are prepared for the next stage of their education.

What the school should improve

• Recent changes to the curriculum have resulted in a few subjects still being in the early stages of implementation. Additionally, staff training in these areas has not been as comprehensive as it has been for other subjects. This means that pupils' understanding of concepts does not build as securely in these subjects as it does in others. Leaders should develop subject-specific training to help staff develop their expertise. Support and guidance should be focused on enabling teachers to implement the planned curriculum effectively and ensure that pupils learn and retain important concepts.

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