Middle Barton Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 November 2022

Pupils are overwhelmingly proud of their school. One pupil stated, 'This is the best school in the world.' Adults have high expectations for behaviour and pupils rise to these. There is very little off-task behaviour. Unkindness and bullying are rare and always dealt with quickly. Pupils feel safe. They know that the adults are always there to help them out, sometimes with a little help from the 'worry monster'. At this school pupils are free to choose who they want to be. Equality, inclusion and diversity weave through all that they do. One pupil who recently joined the school told an inspector, 'I feel so welcomed here.' Leaders are ambitious for all pupils at this school, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders have made deliberate choices about the curriculum pupils learn. Pupils told inspectors how much they enjoy the practical elements of learning as this brings the curriculum alive for them. They especially enjoy learning in the outdoor classroom and their walks around the village to learn about road safety, or to spot a waterfall or a Victorian house.

What the school should improve

• In a minority of subjects, teachers do not consistently take account of what pupils already know and understand. This means that learning activities do not consistently build well on pupils' previous knowledge. Leaders need to provide training to ensure that teachers carefully check what pupils have learned and use this to adapt learning as needed.
• The reading books for some pupils are not consistently matched well to their reading knowledge. As a result, some pupils struggle to maintain fluency and apply their phonics knowledge. Leaders need to ensure that all books are carefully matched to the sounds pupils are learning so they can practise and develop their reading knowledge.

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