Merton Bank Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 May 2024

Pupils are proud of their school. They told inspectors that they like the changes that the school has introduced, such as the new behaviour policy and 'reading nooks'. The school is a calm, inviting place where pupils feel valued. Pupils behave well. They listen carefully to adults and to each other. Pupils celebrate the differences between people. They said that bullying and discrimination are not tolerated. If pupils face difficulties or they are upset, staff deal with their concerns effectively. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well and included in all aspects of school life. Pupils benefit from a wide range of visits and other opportunities to enhance their learning of the curriculum. For example, parents and carers are invited to workshops alongside their children. Staff model the school values of 'respect, care, courage, resilience and empathy' very effectively. They know families well and ensure that pupils are happy at school. Parents reported that 'nothing is too much trouble' for staff. The school is ambitious for its pupils. It has taken effective action to improve the standards that pupils reach, particularly in mathematics and English. Children in the early years get off to a solid start in reading. However, the wider curriculum is not designed carefully enough for pupils across the school to make sufficient progress. Some pupils do not achieve as well as they should.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the school has not defined the knowledge and vocabulary that pupils should learn. Sometimes, this makes it harder for teachers to know what to teach, and in turn, this hinders some pupils from building a rich body of subject knowledge. The school should ensure that teachers are clear about the essential knowledge that pupils should learn so that they can support pupils to build on what they know already.
• The school has not ensured that pupils, including children in the early years, learn to form letters accurately and legibly. As a result, this slows some pupils' writing fluency as they move through the key stage 2 curriculum. The school should ensure that teachers are fully equipped to help children to form letters correctly.
• Too many pupils are absent from school too often. These pupils miss out on vital learning, and this hampers their achievement. The school should support these pupils and their families to improve their rates of attendance over time.

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