New Whittington Community Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 16 July 2024

Communication, aspiration and resolution sit at the heart of New Whittington Community Primary School. These three ambitious aims are woven through the curriculum and school life. Pupils learn what it means to be a good communicator, to aim high and how to resolve problems. Pupils like coming to school and spending time with each other. They attend well. They describe their school as being supportive, giving, fair and accepting. Pupils feel safe and valued. They say they are listened to and that their views count. Pupils are polite and welcoming. Staff deal with any incidents of poor behaviour effectively. Through the 'Learners' Code', staff teach pupils what it means to be a good learner. However, despite these high expectations, some pupils do not always engage in learning as well as they could. Every pupil learns British Sign Language (BSL). This is something they relish. Children in the early years proudly share the signs they know for the stories they read. By the time they reach the end of key stage 2, many pupils are proficient signers. As one pupil typically explained, 'BSL helps us to communicate with deaf children. It makes sure that everyone is included and no one is left out.'

What the school should improve

• Teachers do not always check well enough on what pupils know and can do. Consequently, gaps in pupils' knowledge are not always identified. Pupils are sometimes moved on to new learning before they have the secure understanding that they need to do so. The school must ensure that teachers check closely on how well pupils are learning the curriculum so that any misconceptions are resolved and pupils achieve as well as they can.
• The school teaches pupils what it means to be a good learner. However, some pupils do not always meet these high expectations. When pupils do not engage well with learning, their understanding is not secure, and they cannot always complete tasks successfully by themselves. The school should ensure that all pupils acquire consistently positive attitudes to learning so that they can make the most of every lesson and achieve as well as possible.

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