Ponteland Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 May 2023

Ponteland Primary is a truly inclusive school where pupils, parents and carers, and staff all feel a sense of belonging. Leaders at all levels work hard to provide an ambitious curriculum that goes beyond the academic. A strong extracurricular offer and exceptional cultural experiences enable pupils to flourish. After-school clubs include those for football, judo, first aid and musical theatre. The Shakespeare club recently performed 'Much Ado About Nothing' at Northern Stage. Pupils have visited Valencia in Spain to perform a dance. There is an annual Year 6 visit to France, and Year 5 pupils from across the trust will visit Greece later this term. Leaders go 'above and beyond' to provide high-quality pastoral support. Families experiencing difficulties appreciate the help that the school provides. For example, during the COVID-19 restrictions, leaders worked with a local food bank to deliver food parcels. Pupils feel happy and safe in school. Staff model behaviour expectations and provide a consistent approach. Pupils move around school in a calm and orderly manner. Behaviour in classrooms is good because pupils are eager to learn. Pupils cannot recall any incidents of bullying, but they are confident that these would be dealt with swiftly by a trusted adult. Pupils enjoy a number of roles and special responsibilities in school, such as playtime monitor, reading buddy and elected school councillor.

What the school should improve

• Some pupils do not understand the bigger picture of what they are learning because teaching does not always make this clear in an age-appropriate way. Therefore, in some subjects, such as history, pupils cannot build their subject knowledge over time. Leaders need to check that teachers are helping pupils to remember the curriculum content that they have been taught, so that they can integrate new knowledge into bigger ideas.

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