Riston Church of England Primary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 January 2023

Leaders have high aspirations for all pupils at Riston Church of England Primary Academy. They work collaboratively with other small schools to ensure that pupils have a wide range of learning opportunities. Consequently, most pupils enjoy coming to school. Pupils say that they feel happy and safe here. In lessons, they concentrate on learning. Pupils are polite and friendly with each other and with adults. Bullying is not tolerated at the school. If it does occur, pupils are confident that it will be dealt with quickly. Leaders have developed the curriculum to teach pupils about the diverse world beyond Riston. Pupils are taught to respect other people and celebrate difference through visits and by visitors to the school. Pupils talk about diversity and equality with confidence and understanding. Leaders have worked, with the support of the multi-academy trust (the trust), to develop a curriculum that meets the personal and academic needs of pupils. However, parents do not always feel that they have enough information about their children's learning. Leaders are aware that they have much to do to ensure that parents are better informed about events and changes that occur at the school.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, leaders have not clarified how the important knowledge that they want pupils to remember should be taught in the mixed-age classes. Therefore, some lessons lack challenge or do not support pupils, including pupils with SEND, to make sufficient progress. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum for all subjects clearly sets out the knowledge that all pupils should know, and that it is taught progressively and with success in the mixed-age classes.
• Targets for pupils with SEND are not sufficiently focused on supporting individuals to make progress. They are often too vague and generic. This means that learning cannot be adapted to meet pupils' needs. Leaders should ensure that the plans designed to help pupils with SEND are detailed and can be used effectively to adapt lessons, to help pupils with SEND make good progress.
• Some parents do not feel that leaders communicate with them well enough. This means that they do not always feel informed about events or about their children's learning. Leaders should ensure that parents receive regular and effective communication about changes, improvements and learning.

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