Heath Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 May 2023

This is an inclusive and friendly school where pupils thrive. Leaders have created an ethos that nurtures and supports pupils. Pupils say that they are happy to come to school. They feel safe and know that adults care about them. However, some pupils do not attend well. Leaders have ensured that pupils' well-being is at the heart of what the school does. Pupils talk confidently about their well-being and taking care of their mental health. Pupils' opinions are valued. They enjoy roles of responsibility. The reading ambassadors have influenced change, for example by bringing an author into school. Pupils are respectful towards their peers and adults. Pupils meet the high expectations of behaviour. They behave very well. Bullying is rare, and staff deal with any incidents quickly. In some subjects, staff have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. However, some pupils do not achieve as well as they could. This is because some subjects are not planned clearly to ensure pupils gain the knowledge they should across the curriculum. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school. One parent spoke for many when they described the school as a place where pupils are 'cared for, celebrated and encouraged'.

What the school should improve

• In some foundation subjects, leaders have not identified the key knowledge that pupils need to learn and when. As a result, pupils do not gain and consolidate the knowledge that they should learn in these subjects. Leaders need to ensure that the foundation subject curriculums set out the precise knowledge that all pupils should learn and when.
• Teachers regularly check what pupils have learned in the core subjects. However, leaders have not developed a consistent approach to these checks in the foundation subjects. As a result, teachers do not clearly know what pupils have learned in these subjects. Leaders need to develop a consistent approach to check pupils' learning in the foundation subjects.
• Rates of attendance remain too low. The number of pupils who are persistently absent from school is too high. This means that pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, miss too much of their education. Leaders need to continue to develop their work with children and their families to ensure that all pupils attend school regularly and that the rate of persistent absence is reduced.

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