Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 March 2023

Pupils love coming to school to meet their friends and to join in the interesting activities that staff provide for them. Pupils arrive each day happy and eager to learn. They thrive in this welcoming school where they feel valued and safe. Leaders and teachers bring pupils' learning to life. For example, a recent drama workshop about Ancient Egypt enriched pupils' understanding of their history topic, while a visit to a local nature reserve supported pupils' understanding of animals and habitats. After-school clubs and visits to outdoor centres enable pupils to develop their wider interests and talents. Pupils know that leaders expect them to behave well. Lessons are a calm, purposeful, hubbub of activity where pupils are engrossed in their learning. Pupils work well independently and with others. These positive attitudes mean that pupils can learn without disruption. If bullying happens, leaders deal with it effectively. Leaders are ambitious for what all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), should achieve. Most pupils achieve well. Pupils have opportunities to take on responsibilities. From the start of their time in the early years, children are trusted with simple classroom tasks. Older pupils contribute to the life of the school by acting as school councillors and as buddies to the younger children. This helps pupils to grow in confidence.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, pupils do not have enough opportunity to practise and revisit earlier learning. This hinders them from linking what they have already learned to new knowledge. Leaders should ensure that teachers are trained well to help pupils secure their prior knowledge so that they can recall what they have learned quickly.
• In a small number of subjects, leaders have not identified what they want pupils to know. This hampers teachers from designing learning that builds on what pupils already know and can do. Leaders should ensure that they make it clear to teachers what pupils should learn and when this should happen.

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