Horwood and Newton Tracey Community Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 April 2025

Pupils enjoy coming to school and want to learn. They are polite, courteous and treat each other with respect. This starts in the early years where children learn to share and take turns. The school works effectively to ensure that pupils attend regularly so that they do not miss out on important learning. Since the school has joined the trust, leaders at all levels are determined to ensure that pupils benefit from an ambitious curriculum. This work has made a positive difference to the quality of education that the pupils receive as well as promoting a consistent approach to the high expectations of pupils' behaviour and conduct. Pupils live up to these and typically learn the curriculum well. This school is at the heart of the community. Pupils are given opportunities to come together to share celebrations alongside parents and carers. Pupils want to make a difference. For example, they serve food to elderly residents in the local village hall. Pupils are supported to be active and responsible citizens through their pupil leadership roles. For example, pupils are currently raising money through their 'tuck shop' for a sensory memorial garden for their school.

What the school should improve

• Due to historical weaknesses in the curriculum design and implementation, some pupils have gaps in their knowledge. As a result, they find remembering their learning more challenging and harder to build their knowledge based on what they already know. The trust should strengthen the subject knowledge of staff so that gaps in knowledge are addressed to help pupils to learn the curriculum securely.
• The checks the school makes on how well pupils are learning the curriculum are underdeveloped. As a result, some pupils make repeated errors in their work that go unaddressed. The trust should support staff in being clear about the knowledge pupils must secure and by when, to enable pupils to build their knowledge securely based on what they know and remember.
• Some pupils with SEND do not benefit from adaptations to the curriculum that meet their needs well enough. This means some of these pupils do not build their knowledge securely. The trust must ensure that learning plans are precise in supporting pupils' most significant areas of need to ensure they receive the appropriate support to progress well through the curriculum.

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