Mortimer Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 30 January 2024

The school is a calm and purposeful place to be. Everyone shows high levels of respect to others. Pupils are keen to help. For example, older pupils listen to younger pupils read. Other pupils keep classrooms and the library tidy. The school embodies its motto of 'excellence for all'. Pupils are safe. Pupils trust adults to keep them safe. Pupils know who to speak to if they are anxious about anything. Right from their early years in school, children learn how to cooperate with adults and peers. Behaviour in lessons is excellent. Pupils live up to the high expectations of staff. Pupils understand the importance of a strong work ethic. Pupils achieve very well. The school prepares pupils well for their move to secondary school. There is a strong focus on careers education. The school is aspirational for its pupils. Pupils move sensibly around school. Pupils play happily together at breaktime, using the numerous pieces of equipment. Play during lunchtime is less restrained and behaviour is not quite as good as at other times of the day. Bullying is exceptionally rare. Any instances of poor behaviour or pupils falling out with each other are swiftly sorted out by teachers. Pupils describe teachers as being fair, with no favourites. Pupils' self-confidence and belief in themselves are integral to their success.

What the school should improve

• A few foundation subjects are not as well structured as they need to be. In these subjects, the key ideas that link knowledge, and the most important knowledge that pupils need to know and remember, are unclear, including for pupils. This is limiting pupils' ability to remember more over time and connect new knowledge to previous learning. The school should ensure that all subjects are equally well mapped out so that pupils can learn equally well and remember more across the whole curriculum.
• There are inconsistencies between some year groups and some foundation subjects when work is recorded in pupils' books. This hinders some pupils' ability to reflect, look back, remember and make connections to previous learning. The school should ensure that the school's preferred approach to the recording of pupils' work is implemented consistently across the curriculum and is helping pupils to know and remember more effectively.

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