Paddox Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 March 2023

Paddox Primary School is a caring and welcoming learning community. Pupils come from many diverse backgrounds and faiths, but all are fully included in school life. At playtimes and in lessons, pupils follow leaders' high expectations. Pupils play happily, work hard and achieve well. All the classes are named after trees. Collectively, they make for a diverse but happy forest. Pupils are kind, polite and well behaved. They have good relationships with staff and other pupils. They enjoy learning and show positive attitudes to their work. Good behaviour begins in the early years. Children learn to cooperate and listen to adults from the outset. As they move through the school, pupils follow the school rules of being 'ready, respectful and safe'. Pupils know that staff care about them and provide good support when they need it. A high proportion of pupils, parents and staff agree that pupils are safe at school. Inspection evidence also shows that leaders take bullying very seriously. They act swiftly to address it. Pupils enjoy the wide range of experiences and extra-curricular activities that the school provides. These include school performances, residential visits, forest school, mindfulness club and many different sports activities.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum, including the early years curriculum, is not yet sufficiently well planned and sequenced in all subjects. In a few subjects, the curriculum does not set out the precise content and vocabulary that pupils are expected to know and remember. This leads to variation in pupil achievement in different subjects. Leaders should ensure that all subjects outline the most important knowledge and vocabulary that pupils are expected to know from early years to Year 6.
• Targets set for pupils with SEND are too often imprecise. This means that staff cannot measure or assess the progress of pupils. Leaders should ensure that targets are achievable, measurable and precise and that they are systematically reviewed and updated appropriately.
• Too many pupils, especially children in the early years and pupils with SEND, are persistently absent. As a result, some of the most vulnerable pupils are not accessing the education and care they should. Leaders should ensure that they explore and utilise every avenue to secure improved attendance of these pupils.

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