Long Lawford Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 July 2024

Pupils attend school happily. Many pupils join the school at different times throughout the year. All are welcomed and greeted warmly. This helps them settle quickly. Staff are caring and try to put the needs of pupils first. They model the school's values of 'love, learn, persevere and succeed' well. The school is ambitious that all pupils are successful. However, not all pupils achieve as well as they should in all subject areas. This is because the school has only recently introduced, or made changes to, the curriculum. It affects how well some subjects are taught and hinders how well pupils learn. The majority of pupils follow and understand the school's simple rules of 'ready, respectful, responsible'. Many show good attitudes to learning and try hard in lessons. Some pupils find this more challenging. When this happens, they receive effective and individual support and care. Pupils are enthused by the wide variety of opportunities available to them beyond the classroom. They particularly enjoy performing in a professional theatre and taking up a wide range of leadership responsibilities. There are well-planned trips and visits that help bring the curriculum to life. They also enjoy taking part in two residential trips during their time at Long Lawford.

What the school should improve

• The school's curriculum is not planned or implemented consistently enough from the early years to Year 6. As a result, pupils do not achieve as well as they should. The school needs to ensure curriculum planning in all subjects clearly maps out the key knowledge pupils will learn in a coherent way, and that it is delivered consistently well, to ensure that all pupils achieve as well as they should and are ready for the next stage of their learning.
• In some subjects, teachers do not use assessment effectively to assess pupils' learning. This means that gaps in learning are not always identified and addressed swiftly. Leaders should ensure that there are consistent and appropriate assessment procedures in place to check the key knowledge and skills that pupils remember.
• Children in the early years spend too much time unsupported by adults. This means the activities they take part in lack focus and opportunities to develop communication and language are limited. The school should ensure all activities have a sharp focus on what children should achieve with increased, high-quality interactions with adults.

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