Hodthorpe Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 October 2023

Relationships at Hodthorpe Primary School are positive. As one pupil said: 'It's a family. We're big together.' Another added: 'We call ourselves the Hodthorpe family because we work together and look after each other.' Staff have high expectations of pupils. These are reflected in the Hodthorpe 'family rules'. Pupils know these rules and why they are important. They do their best to live up to them. Pupils are proud to be selected as a 'star of the week' for modelling the family rules. Pupils behave well. They are motivated by the 'yeah points' on offer. They know that positive behaviour will result in their name being moved up through the colours, from green to the ultimate high of gold. They know that being moved down to red is serious. However, this is rare. Pupils who need help to follow the schools' family rules are well supported. Outdoors, pupils know that they can use the 'buddy bench' to help them find someone to play with. Pupils are proud of the roles that they take on. These include school councillors, sports captains and many prefect roles. Older pupils relish the opportunities they have to help out with younger children in the early years.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, the curriculum does not make clear the most important content that pupils are expected to know and remember. In these subjects, pupils' recall of content is not as secure as it should be. The school should ensure that the curriculum, across all subjects, makes clear the most important content that pupils are expected to know and remember.
• The leadership of some subjects is at an early stage of development. Where this is the case, leaders do not yet have a fully rounded view of all aspects of their subject. The school should ensure that new leaders continue to receive the help and support that they need to be fully effective in their role.
• In some places, the early years curriculum sets out the activities that pupils will complete. It does not make clear what children are expected to know, or the skills that they are expected to master. This means that staff cannot check on how well children are learning the full breadth of the curriculum. The school should ensure that the early years curriculum, across all areas of learning, makes clear what children are expected to know, or be able to do, at each stage of their education.

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