Gunness and Burringham Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 November 2024

The school's ambition for all pupils to be 'agents of change' is at the core of everything it does. There are exceptionally well-planned opportunities that allow pupils to make a positive difference. For instance, pupils have recently launched a community telephone box project where they make items, such as remembrance poppies, for members of the public. Staff ensure that each pupil is considered in everything they do. Staff know and understand pupils' needs. Staff and pupils have immensely positive and nurturing relationships. Pupils benefit from a school culture of care. For example, each week pupils identify a deserving peer to receive a recognition for kindness. This motivates pupils to behave well. Pupils show high levels of respect. They demonstrate understanding and acceptance of difference. Pupils are able to support their peers because their own emotional needs are met. They do this through their well-being ambassador roles. Pupils develop high aspirations and show consistently positive attitudes to learning. In class, they respond effectively to the high expectations that the school has of them. Pupils listen attentively to their teachers as well to as each other. The majority of pupils achieve well. Pupils are happy and safe. They are extremely proud to be part of their school and have high attendance.

What the school should improve

• The school does not provide sufficient opportunities for pupils to practise both letter formation and the sounds that they have learned in their writing. This hinders some pupils' writing fluency as they move on to more complex content before they are ready. The school should consider how pupils practise components in early writing so that they can become fluent and confident writers.
• In the wider curriculum, lesson activities are not consistently well matched to pupils' needs or what the school wants pupils to know and understand. As a result, some pupils are not sufficiently challenged by work or able to secure this understanding over time. The school needs to ensure activities are carefully considered in order to make sure that they meet the needs of pupils and support them to achieve well.

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