Great Waltham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 October 2022

The school's motto, 'let our light shine', is what pupils at Great Waltham Church of England Primary School are encouraged to do. Pupils are happy and motivated to learn the interesting curriculum that has been planned. They benefit from a supportive, caring environment which encourages the school values of 'strength' and 'responsibility'. Pupils say they feel safe and that bullying is rare. If it does happen, they know the trusted adults around them will sort it out. Parents and staff also share this view. There are clear routines and expectations for behaviour, and pupils respond well to these. Pupils consistently show high levels of concentration and engagement. They work hard to move up the 'learning ladder' behaviour chart and achieve platinum rewards. Through the range of extra opportunities that leaders provide, pupils gain a deep understanding of the world around them. These range from learning about school life in Kenya to taking part in trips and inter-sports competitions. Pupils show a mature understanding of their differences and things they have in common with others. For example, they can confidently explain 'Do to others as you would have them do to you' Luke 6:31, as another key aspect of the school's vision.

What the school should improve

• A few areas of the curriculum do not progressively build on the key subject knowledge about what content should be taught and when. Consequently, pupils are not as confident in their recall of knowledge in these areas. Leaders must ensure curriculum leaders adapt curriculum thinking to clearly outline what must be learned by pupils and when, so that pupils can more easily link learning together and, consequently, remember more over time.

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