New Valley Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 June 2023

This is a welcoming, happy and inclusive place to learn. Pupils are proud to belong to the school's diverse community. Leaders have prioritised developing pupils' ability to express themselves with confidence. Purposeful talk is evident across the school. For example, leaders and staff expect pupils to answer questions in full sentences, using subject-specific vocabulary correctly. This approach also helps pupils when they come to record their thinking and ideas in writing. Overall, pupils achieve well. By the end of Year 6, they have a well-developed body of knowledge in a range of subjects, including reading, writing and mathematics. Pupils are successfully prepared for their next steps at secondary school. Leaders have high expectations for pupils in all areas of their learning starting in the early years. Pupils work hard and want to do well. They behave sensibly, are polite and show mature attitudes towards their learning. Pupils understand their responsibility to behave with kindness and respect. They said that bullying is not tolerated. On the rare occasions that bullying does happen, staff deal with it quickly. Pupils are kept safe and feel safe in school. Leaders use many well-planned strategies to support pupils' wider development. For example, weekly 'Well-being Wednesday' sessions and regular opportunities for outdoor learning support the school's core values. This effective work starts in the early years.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, leaders' curriculum thinking is at an earlier stage of development. While leaders are clear about the intended end points for pupils' learning, they have not set out precisely how pupils need to develop their knowledge in order to achieve these long-term aims, matching the components of learning with intended end points. Leaders should continue to refine and adapt their curriculum thinking so that pupils acquire the necessary knowledge to work towards the clearly defined curriculum goals in all subjects.
• Occasionally, teachers do not support pupils to build on what they have learned previously. This affects how well pupils deepen their knowledge over time. Leaders need to provide additional training and support for teachers in knowing how to assess and adapt their teaching for all pupils.

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