Mercenfeld Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 31 October 2023

Pupils are proud to attend Mercenfeld Primary School. They list the many things they like about their school with enthusiasm. One pupil said: 'I think it must be the best school in England.' Pupils love to learn. They try their best in lessons and give teachers their full attention. From the start of school, children in the early years learn how important it is to listen carefully. They respond promptly when their teacher reminds them to 'get your listening ears on'. Pupils know the school rules and stick to them. Relationships between adults and pupils are positive. Adults model kindness and respect. Pupils follow their example. The school is a safe and happy place to work and play. The school places a well-considered emphasis on preparing pupils for the next stage in their education and future lives. Pupils' character development is central to the work of the school and runs through every part of the school day. There is a clear ambition that all pupils will do well and achieve their very best. The school's motto is 'striving for excellence'. This is lived out by the staff and pupils at this rapidly improving school.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum is under review in some subjects to ensure that it identifies precisely and succinctly what pupils need to know and remember, including the order in which this knowledge should be taught. This work is not complete. In some subjects, the current curriculum does not meet the needs of all pupils. The school must complete curriculum reviews of all subjects to ensure that the right adaptations have been made.
• Assessment in the foundation subjects is not fully developed. It is not clear how well the information gathered is used to inform future planning, to close gaps in pupils' knowledge or to address misconceptions. The school should establish a manageable approach to assessment in the foundation subjects that is used effectively by staff.
• While staff agree that the changes made to improve the school were much needed and are supportive of the actions taken, many teaching staff say that their workload has increased significantly. Their well-being has not always been fully considered as this work has been completed. Going forward, the school should balance ambition to improve with the right level of consideration for staff's work-life balance.

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