Larkrise Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 March 2023

Larkrise Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive community where pupils are cared for and nurtured. Pupils demonstrate the school values of creativity, kindness and adventure through the way they treat others and approach their learning. They know their teachers expect lots from them and enjoy rising to this challenge. Bullying is uncommon, but when it does happen leaders deal with it quickly and effectively. If pupils are worried about anything, they feel confident to ask an adult in school for help. Pupils are excited by the wide range of clubs on offer here such as chess, football, computing and film club. They also enjoy opportunities to go outdoors, learning about nature and survival skills such as outdoor cooking. Many pupils benefit from taking on leadership roles. They are proud of the positive difference they make to their school community through groups such as the eco-council or by training as anti-bullying ambassadors. Parents are incredibly supportive of this school. One parent reflected the views of many by telling the inspectors, 'I've always been very happy with how the children are treated - with respect, support and with the expectation that they will take the opportunity to be the best that they can be.'

What the school should improve

• Sometimes, lesson activities in the foundation subjects do not build clearly on what pupils have learned before. Leaders should continue to refine their planning of these subjects and the training they provide to teachers. This will help to ensure that lesson activities are more consistently designed to build on what pupils already know.
• In a few of the foundation subjects, it is not clear precisely what leaders want pupils to know and remember. Sometimes, pupils remember activities in these subjects, but not the intended learning. Leaders should ensure that knowledge is precisely identified within the curriculum for each subject and that teachers build in opportunities to check that this has been learned.
• Some pupils who are disadvantaged do not attend school as often as their peers, or sometimes arrive late. These pupils miss out on important learning. Leaders should continue to focus on attendance and punctuality, to make sure that all pupils attend school as regularly as possible.

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