Kenninghall Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 16 June 2026

Pupils enjoy attending this welcoming village school. They feel safe, behave well and benefit from positive relationships with staff and one another. Pupils know that adults listen to them and help them if they have worries. Bullying is rare. Pupils are confident that staff will deal with any concerns promptly. Children in the early years settle quickly into school life and benefit from a nurturing environment that helps them develop their confidence and independence. Pupils learn within calm classrooms where clear routines help them focus on their work. They are enthusiastic about their learning, particularly the way the new curriculum acquaints them with exciting and interesting topics. Pupils take pride in what they achieve in school. They develop secure knowledge in all subject areas. They are confident about their next steps, including going to secondary school. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and those who face additional challenges, receive the swift and bespoke support they need to achieve alongside their peers. This is due to the high amount of expertise that staff and leaders deploy to support pupils with additional needs. Pupils play an active part in school life. They contribute ideas, take on responsibilities and enjoy being trusted to help others. Older pupils lead clubs, support younger children and take pride in roles such as prefects. Pupils speak enthusiastically about visits, visitors and events that introduce them to experiences within and beyond their community. They contribute to traditions such as the school fete and maypole dancing and enjoy the sense of belonging these activities create. Due to leaders' careful work and dedication to pupils' friendship and play opportunities, playtimes are a particular highlight of pupils' school experience. Pupils enjoy access to an unusually wide range of activities and equipment. Pupils make the most of these opportunities with enthusiasm and responsibility.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that recently introduced curriculum developments in English and the wider curriculum are implemented consistently across all classes, so that pupils benefit fully from the intended approach.
• Leaders should continue to develop subject leadership, monitoring and quality assurance so that curriculum expectations are implemented consistently across all subjects.
• Leaders should strengthen and embed routines in early years lessons, including phonics, so that children remain fully engaged and staff can identify and address misconceptions at the earliest opportunity.

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