Newnham Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 2 March 2023

This is a happy and cohesive school where everyone gets on. Staff know pupils well. They help pupils to learn, be happy and stay safe. When asked if they liked school, one pupil said, 'No.' He quickly went on to add, 'I love it.' This was typical. Behaviour is highly positive in class and around the school. Pupils thrive on the rewards that are available to them, including recognition in celebration assembly, points for positive behaviour and certificates for regular reading and for being 'homework heroes'. Pupils take the 'three strikes' system seriously. However, they say that the ultimate sanction of 'time out' is rarely used. Pupils know what bullying is and the different forms that it can take. As one pupil, in common with others, said: 'Bullying is not tolerated here.' Pupils can get help by putting a message in the school's worry boxes. They say adults check these boxes regularly. Pupils explained how they can use the friendship bench if they need a friend. Pupils know the school's values of ambition, compassion, courage, integrity and respect. They understand how these values prepare them for the next stage of their education and beyond. Pupils do their best to model these attributes.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of foundation subjects, the curriculum is not implemented consistently well. When this is the case, pupils cannot remember what they have learned in sufficient detail. Leaders should make sure that the curriculum is implemented consistently well across all subjects so that pupils' recall of important knowledge is secure.
• Some senior leaders do not understand the early years curriculum as well as they should. They are unable to hold staff and other leaders to account well enough for the effectiveness of the curriculum in this phase. Those responsible for governance should ensure that the relevant senior leaders fully understand the early years curriculum and its associated teaching.
• Leaders respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns about pupils. However, in a small number of cases, leaders do not always make sure that records of their actions to keep pupils safe from potential harm are thorough enough. It is not always clear in pupils' safeguarding records what actions have been taken, when and by whom. Leaders should ensure that all actions taken in relation to safeguarding are documented fully and sufficiently detailed.

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