North Crescent Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 April 2024

Pupils are happy and safe here. They make valuable contributions to their community, including visiting a care home to entertain the residents and supporting local charities. Pupils follow the school's values of being 'ethical, altruistic and pioneering'. They warmly and knowledgeably celebrate different cultures. For example, they learn about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller lifestyles. The school expects all pupils to achieve well. Pupils learn an ambitious set of vocabulary in every subject. They are excited when they use and understand these words while learning. Pupils achieve well by the end of Year 6. Pupils care for each other. Older pupils look after the younger ones, making sure they get the help they need at playtimes. Pupils are confident that any concerns they share with their 'worry monsters' will be dealt with quickly and effectively. Pupils love learning outdoors. They cook on campfires and build woodland shelters. This develops pupils' confidence and team-building skills. Pupils understand the importance of mutual respect and helping everyone in the community. Discussing the weekly news and reflecting on assemblies helps embed this learning. Pupils are proud when their parents join them for their graduation ceremonies at the end of Reception and Year 6.

What the school should improve

• There have been improvements to the implementation of the curriculum. Some pupils have legacy gaps in their knowledge, and there are inconsistencies in how effectively teachers use assessment in some subjects. This means that misconceptions are not always addressed as quickly as possible, and some pupils do not achieve as well as they could. The school should ensure that assessment is used consistently well to spot misconceptions and adapt teaching and planning so that pupils build the secure understanding of knowledge required to achieve well in all areas of the curriculum.
• Despite the school's conscientious approach to promoting attendance, too many pupils are absent frequently. This impacts on the learning of these pupils. They also miss out on the high-quality opportunities for personal development provided by the school. The school should continue to develop further parents' understanding of the importance of pupils attending school regularly.

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