Highfields Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 5 November 2024

Pupils' behaviour shines at Highfields Primary School. Pupils say that their shared rules and values are what makes the school special. They live together peaceably. On the playground they accommodate each other's games with grace. An atmosphere of calm pervades the school throughout the day. Pupils consistently treat each other with respect. Their manners are excellent. The school wants all children to be ready for life in modern Britain. Visits and trips are chosen with immense care to enrich pupils' knowledge. High ambitions for all are clearly evident. Pupils become eager readers and enthusiastic mathematicians. Some compose diary entries or newspaper articles with flair. However, there is more to be done to make sure that all pupils write fluently and accurately. Children are cherished in the early years. They settle in quickly and routines become well embedded. Parents and carers seize the chance to come and read familiar books with their children at the beginning of the day. There is a warm welcome for all. Pupils feel safe at school and readily explain that all adults would help them if needed. Parents say that leaders are extremely approachable and that any concerns are quickly sorted out.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum does not specify clearly enough how pupils should develop their early writing skills. Sometimes, pupils are given tasks that are too complex for them. When this happens, pupils struggle to complete their work successfully. The school should ensure that pupils secure the foundational knowledge that they need and have opportunities to practise this in their writing until they become fluent.
• The school has begun to identify the important words that all pupils should know, particularly in the early years. This work is ongoing. However, not all staff have the skills and knowledge necessary to develop pupils' communication effectively. Interactions between staff and pupils do not always help pupils to secure their knowledge of language as well as they might. The school should ensure that all staff consistently enable pupils to know more and communicate better.

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