John Donne Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 November 2023

Pupils are motivated and enthusiastic about their learning at this school. From the early years onwards, classrooms are settled, purposeful places where pupils listen attentively, work well together and try hard at their learning. Adults develop warm and respectful professional relationships with pupils, which encourages them to report any concerns. Roles such as digital leaders and membership of the school council provide opportunities for pupils to take up responsibility. Leaders are ambitious for what pupils will achieve through the curriculum, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They expect all pupils to learn the full curriculum, which is broad and interesting. For example, pupils perform their own poetry, learn outdoors in the school's open-air kitchen and are taught Spanish cultural heritage when studying the language. Beyond the academic curriculum, leaders ensure that a wide range of 'memorable experiences' develop pupils' knowledge and experience of the world. Residential stays in Years 5 and 6 are a particular highlight, giving pupils new encounters that build on previous learning. For example, pupils gain experience of bee-keeping during a farm stay in Year 5, which further develops their understanding about pollination gained during a Year 4 outing to Kew Gardens.

What the school should improve

• Assessment systems are new and, in some places, still developing. As a result, the school has a less clear picture of how well pupils have learned the curriculum in some subjects. The school should ensure that checks on pupils' learning are used systematically to identify any areas of the curriculum where pupils' knowledge is less secure.
• In a few subjects, teaching is not routinely focused on helping pupils to recall the most important knowledge accurately and to connect it with what they already know. As a result, pupils' recall of knowledge sometimes lacks fluency, and content can become confused. The school should ensure that teaching focuses on helping pupils to understand and recall what they need to know in all subjects.

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