Lacewood Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 27 June 2023

The school's motto, 'Always trying our best to be our best', is exactly what pupils are encouraged to do at Lacewood Primary School. All staff and leaders are committed to pupil well-being, welfare and academic success. As a result, pupils feel safe, happy and supported. Pupils and staff have very positive relationships. Pupils feel like they are listened to and understood. Leaders support pupils to contribute to school life and the local community. For instance, all pupils have the opportunity to organise charity work to support local organisations. Pupils can also take on many roles of responsibility, such as by being an art or reading ambassador. Leaders place importance on broadening pupils' experiences. Leaders encourage pupils to develop their talents and interests. Pupils have opportunities to go on many visits. They have access to a variety of clubs and activities in school. Leaders have high expectations of behaviour. Pupils behave well. They are respectful and well mannered. Pupils walk around school in a calm and orderly manner. They are respectful of each other and enjoy learning. Pupils know what bullying is and know that it is unacceptable. Pupils say that bullying is very rare and that when it does happen, adults sort it out quickly.

What the school should improve

• Although leaders give clear guidance about what they want teachers to teach, teachers do not always use approaches that help pupils learn and remember new content. Leaders need to ensure that they focus on improving teachers' understanding of how to deliver the curriculum to their pupils so that they remember new content.
• Opportunities for checking what pupils know and can do are sometimes missed. This means that lessons are not always adapted to meet pupils' varying needs. Sometimes this prevents pupils, including those with SEND, from working independently. Leaders need to ensure that teachers follow an agreed approach to checking pupils' understanding and that this information is used consistently to plan learning that meets the needs of all pupils.
• School leaders' analysis of records is not systematic. Leaders need to establish and use clear processes to analyse information in an accessible way so that leaders can track and identify trends and patterns.

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