Iford and Kingston Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 December 2024

Pupils enjoy attending their warm and nurturing village school. All children are welcomed into Reception by their Year 6 buddies. Across the school, pupils socialise and make friends within and beyond their own year groups. Pupils told the inspector that their school was special because 'Everyone plays with everyone'. Since becoming part of the Skylark Federation, the school has re-established high expectations for every pupil. Older pupils, in particular, have very positive attitudes to learning. They work hard and achieve well. The school provides a safe and positive environment for all pupils. Pupils treat each other with respect and kindness. Classrooms are settled and calm. Lunchtimes can sometimes be a little less settled, but the school is working to address this. The school provides sensible and effective support to any pupil who struggles to manage their behaviour. Pupils benefit from the wide range of trips, visits and experiences the school provides. Pupils talked enthusiastically of recent trips to local cultural and historic sites. They also enjoy regular walks on the South Downs. A wide club offer, including choir, orchestra and coding club, enables all pupils to pursue their talents and interests.

What the school should improve

• In English, the curriculum is not consistently adapted to align with all pupils' starting points. Younger pupils are sometimes asked to undertake writing tasks which are too complex too early. This hampers some pupils' progress through the school's English curriculum. The school should review the planned curriculum in English to ensure enough teaching and practice of foundational knowledge and skills, such as handwriting and composing simple sentences.
• In some foundation subjects, there is variability in how well the planned curriculum is taught and learned. This means pupils in some year groups are not learning as well in some subjects. The school should continue their work to ensure that teaching is consistently strong so that all pupils learn the school's planned curriculum and achieve the best possible outcomes.
• Support for pupils with SEND has been inconsistent over time. This has negatively impacted on the attainment and school experience of some pupils with SEND. The school should continue its work to strengthen SEND provision, ensuring that partnership with parents and provision for pupils is strengthened.

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