Merton Abbey Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 July 2024

Pupils in this school feel happy and secure, as the school fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment. Leaders, staff, parents and carers, and pupils all agree that the school is a close-knit and supportive community. Pupils are well looked after and the school knows them well. They are confident to seek out support from any adult if they have any concerns. The school wants its pupils to 'work hard and to care for each other'. Pupils respond positively to this, showing perseverance in their learning. They achieve well across subjects, and particularly in phonics and mathematics. Pupils are respectful. They listen to adults and follow instructions promptly. They behave well, both in and out of lessons. Leaders and staff have high expectations of pupils. They expect pupils to conduct themselves consistently well. On the rare occasions when pupils are reminded about their behaviour, they listen to adults and quickly follow the school's expectations. Pupils enjoy the many opportunities that they have to support their creativity. For example, they work with specialist music tutors to take part in musical events such as forming a Blues ensemble. They also perform in concert venues like the Royal Albert Hall. Pupils enjoy working with theatre groups, drama, and dance specialists to enhance their performance skills. They take pride in representing their school in various sports events.

What the school should improve

• In some instances, the curriculum does not enable pupils to obtain a secure understanding of subject-specific vocabulary. When this happens, pupils develop gaps in their understanding which limits them from gaining deep knowledge in a subject. The school should enhance opportunities for pupils to develop and grasp essential vocabulary in a subject so that they know and remember more over time.
• In some cases, the school's work to promote regular attendance has not had the positive impact it expects. The proportion of pupils who are persistently absent remains high. This impacts on how fully pupils are able to develop and embed deeper knowledge. The school should continue to implement and refine strategies to support regular attendance, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, to ensure that these pupils can benefit from the education the school offers and, in turn, achieve their full potential over time.

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