Holywell CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 October 2024

Pupils enjoy coming to this school. They particularly like reading, mathematics, music and history lessons. Pupils learn more about subjects from educational visits, taking part in sports festivals or having specialist teaching. Clubs like football, choir and computing also extend their interests. Children in early years make a positive start to school life. They quickly settle in and engage in learning. Pupils soon become confident readers. By the time they leave school, most pupils achieve well in national assessments. However, leaders recognise that pupils are capable of even more. The school has recently started to look at how to help pupils secure a deeper understanding across all subjects. This work is starting to have a positive impact but is still in its infancy. The school provides a safe and harmonious place for pupils to learn. This is underpinned by its Christian ethos. Pupils like to earn 'value stickers', for example for showing service and respect. Pupils, including in early years, know the rules and routines and follow them. Pupils know any behaviour incidents are dealt with fairly. Pupils appreciate that their well-being is prioritised. Trained staff oversee pupils' mental and physical health with care. Pupils with special educational needs and or/disabilities (SEND) have their academic and social and emotional needs accurately identified.

What the school should improve

• Work is ongoing to update the curriculum to ensure that it provides sufficient opportunity for pupils to secure in-depth knowledge. This work is still in the early stages. Therefore, there are some instances where pupils are not yet learning with the depth leaders intend. The school needs to ensure that the curriculum explicitly signposts the depth of knowledge pupils need to remember. Leaders, including governors, need to then ensure that pupils across the school are retaining this depth of knowledge securely.
• In some subjects, some pupils, including some with SEND, are not achieving what they are fully capable of. Work is not always precisely tailored to meet their specific needs. The school must ensure that all staff know how to adapt learning to support these pupils excel. Leaders, including governors, need to check that work set is suitably matched and sufficiently ambitious for these pupils.

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