Highgate Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 16 April 2024

This is a caring school where pupils learn to be positive, respectful citizens. Pupils enjoy attending school. Central to the school are the values of; 'ready, curious, try our best, respectful, kind, resilient'. These guide pupils successfully in their actions and thoughts. Pupils are keen to help and support one another to make positive choices. 'Games buddies' play alongside their younger peers, showing them how to get along together. The school has high expectations for all pupils to achieve well, particularly the most disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). These expectations are realised, particularly in key stage 1. Similarly, the school has high expectations for pupils' behaviour. As one pupil typically stated: 'Behaviour is good in our school. Children are respectful and kind.' The school's three-step approach to supporting pupils' behaviour guides the choices they make. Pupils say they feel safe. Pupils have a strong understanding of diversity and inclusion. They are respectful of the characteristics that make people similar and different. Pupils enjoy taking on wider responsibilities as they move through the year groups. For example, nurture assistants enable other pupils to explore and manage their own feelings and emotions. Pupils take pride in celebrating each other's achievements.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, the curriculum is not as well developed as it is in most others. In these subjects, staff do not always have clarity about what is taught and when so that they can make clear links between prior and future learning. Consequently, teachers do not always know how they check pupils' understanding in these subjects. Therefore, pupils are not all achieving as well as they might. The school should ensure that they swiftly evaluate and improve the planning and implementation of the curriculum in these subjects to help all pupils know and remember more of the knowledge and skills they are taught.
• While leaders have strengthened their oversight of the provision for pupils with SEND, some parents do not feel as involved in their child's education as they might be. They do not all feel that the school communicates with them as well as it could. The school should continue to build on the new approaches they have developed to ensure that all pupils with SEND get the help they need to achieve well and that parents have the reassurance they need.

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