Godstone Primary and Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 December 2022

Pupils are at the heart of this nurturing and vibrant school. They feel safe and valued as individuals. Pupils form strong relationships with the staff. Parents appreciate the guidance and support that staff provide. As one parent wrote, 'Our children are flourishing at Godstone. There is always such a warm, happy atmosphere in school and a real sense of community.' High expectations permeate every aspect of school life. Leaders place no limits on what pupils can accomplish. In classrooms, there is a purposeful buzz of learning. Playtimes are cheerful occasions where pupils have fun. Pupils are rightly confident that any unkind behaviour will not be tolerated. They have a strong sense of how they should look after themselves and each other. One pupil expressed this by saying, 'I think that love might be the most powerful magic of all, it helps us to be kind.' Pupils appreciate the range of wider opportunities on offer. Clubs, such as gymnastics, football and singing, help to develop pupils' talents and interests. Pupils are proud to take on positions of responsibility such as librarians or sports captains. Through the much- respected school council, pupils use their democratic voice to contribute to important decisions that affect them.

What the school should improve

• There are inconsistencies in how phonics is taught. This affects some pupils' learning and progress. Leaders should continue providing staff with phonics training to ensure that the school's phonics curriculum is implemented consistently and effectively.
• Leaders are aware that in a small number of subjects, staff have variable subject knowledge. This limits how well pupils achieve. Leaders need to continue providing training to develop teachers' expertise to deliver the curriculum successfully.

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