Rockingham Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 July 2026

Pupils at Rockingham Primary School follow the ‘Rockingham way’, which supports them to follow expectations and be ready to learn. They are taught the importance of respect, aiming high and being proud citizens. Pupils are confident, calm and polite. They have positive and supportive relationships with staff. Leaders have established routines which have improved behaviour across the school. Most pupils have good relationships with each other and play well together. The introduction of structured lunchtime activities has provided opportunities for pupils to learn to play positively alongside each other. When bullying or unkind behaviour happens, pupils say that staff take this seriously. Leaders have taken steps to improve the quality of teaching across the school. Teachers provide a familiar structure to lessons, which ensures that pupils can settle in a disruption-free learning environment. Classrooms are calm and pupils engage with learning activities. There are consistent approaches to teaching basic knowledge and skills, such as reading, writing and mathematics. Pupils show enthusiasm for their learning in the wider curriculum, for example in science and geography. Teachers provide appropriate additional support for pupils who find learning more challenging. As a result, most pupils make effective progress from their starting points. Outcomes in external assessments are broadly in line with national averages. However, some pupils need more precise support and higher levels of challenge to ensure they make the progress they should. Typically, children in the early years achieve a good level of development that prepares them well for the next stage of their education. Leaders celebrate pupils’ regular attendance. They identify where pupils may need more support to remove barriers to attendance. As a result, many pupils are attending more regularly. However, some younger pupils do not attend regularly when they start school. Leaders ensure that pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils, take part in activities beyond the curriculum. These help to build pupils' confidence and give them experiences of life beyond school.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently make highly effective choices across the curriculum about what to teach and how to teach it, so that pupils are challenged appropriately and achieve more highly.
• Leaders should refine strategies to secure positive attendance, particularly for younger pupils, and continue to address barriers for the persistently absent pupils.
• Leaders should ensure that pupils benefit from learning activities and experiences which deepen their knowledge of different cultures, religions and lifestyles to prepare them well for life in modern Britain.
• Leaders should continue to develop constructive relationships with parents and carers to build trust and an understanding of life at school.

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