New Close Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 July 2026

Pupils enjoy attending this school. They arrive in the morning brimming with enthusiasm for the day ahead. Many pupils join during the school year as they have families who serve in the military. The school helps new pupils to quickly settle at school. They are made to feel welcome from the outset. Consequently, pupils want to come to school and most attend well. Well-trained and vigilant staff develop a thorough knowledge of the strengths and needs of each individual pupil. Positive relationships are built between staff and pupils. This creates a caring and nurturing culture across the school. One pupil reflected the views of many when saying: 'They notice if I am sad and help me'. Bullying, derogatory language and behaviour that interrupts learning are rare. Pupils have confidence that staff deal swiftly and effectively with any disagreements or unkindness that occurs. Pupils typically have positive attitudes to their learning. They are keen to share their learning and ideas in lessons. Pupils' written work is typically of high quality. The curriculum is well designed to prepare pupils for their next stages in education. Pupils generally achieve well. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged or face other barriers to learning. A range of opportunities and experiences support pupils' wider development. Pupils take part in a diverse range of trips. Visits to local museums and places of interest support curriculum learning. Pupils experience exciting outdoor activities as part of the curriculum. The residential trip is a highlight, helping pupils to build confidence and resilience.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that teaching is more precisely matched to pupils' starting points so that new knowledge is secured quickly, enabling pupils to develop a greater depth of knowledge across the curriculum.
• Leaders should ensure that staff's interactions with children in the early years more consistently help them to develop their communication and language skills so that they are better prepared for their next steps in education.
• The work of leaders at all levels needs to be developed further to accelerate improvements across the school.

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