Hurst Drive Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 26 March 2024

Pupils are happy, polite and kind to each other. They have been involved, alongside staff and parents, in establishing the school's values, which they call the 'Hurst Drive Way'. These values include respect, confidence, kindness, inclusivity and community. As a result, pupils regularly demonstrate these values. Pupils know that teachers have high expectations of them. They engage with and focus on their learning. Pupils particularly enjoy practical activities, for example science experiments, drawing and creating things. However, in a few subjects, they do not have enough time to practise these skills. If pupils need support, they ask for it through the classroom worry boxes that teachers check or the locked box checked by the pastoral team. Pupils know that there is always someone to help them if they need it. Pupils enjoy the many opportunities to develop their leadership skills. These include roles as school councillors, learning leaders, well-being ambassadors and house captains. Pupils are proud of the roles they have and the difference they can make to other pupils through these roles. Playground buddies, for example, ensure that everyone has someone to play with.

What the school should improve

• In a few foundation subjects, teachers do not check that pupils can remember the knowledge and vocabulary needed to learn more complex knowledge. Teachers do not use assessment information to plan or adapt activities or the curriculum. Therefore, pupils do not build effectively on their prior learning to develop their understanding of more complex knowledge and vocabulary. The school needs to ensure that teachers check carefully what pupils know and can do in all subjects. The school should ensure that teachers use the information from these checks to plan activities and sequences of lessons that build on pupils' prior learning effectively.
• Pupils do not have enough opportunity to practise and develop skills and techniques in some practical subjects. Consequently, pupils are slow to secure basic skills and to develop more complex skills in these subjects. The school should ensure that pupils have enough time to develop and practise practical skills and are supported to develop them further.

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