Salhouse CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 November 2024

Leaders are ambitious for what pupils can achieve at this school. However, over a period of time, pupils have not received a high-quality education. Too many pupils leave this school not academically prepared for their secondary school experience. Pupils are happy and safe at this school. They value the warm relationships that they have with staff. Pupils know that they will be supported if they feel worried. They have trusted adults in school who care for them. Pupils generally get on well together at social times. In the playground, adults manage pupils' behaviour well. Playtime is a hive of activity. Pupils take part in a range of physical activities. During lesson time, pupils' behaviour is variable. Expectations of how pupils should behave are not always clear. Pupils' learning is sometimes disrupted by the behaviour of others. The school wants pupils to 'soar on wings like eagles'. Pupils achieve this through the wider opportunities that they get to develop their talents. For instance, through sporting competitions or as part of the school's salsa band. Older pupils act as house captains and look after younger pupils well in their role as senior students.

What the school should improve

• The school does not set high enough expectations for what pupils can do and achieve. This means that some pupils, including pupils with SEND, are not encouraged to achieve as well as they could. As a result, pupils do not progress through the curriculum as well as they should. The school should raise its expectations of all pupils across the curriculum.
• At times, the new curriculum is not delivered in the most effective way. This means that some lessons do not support pupils effectively to learn the most important knowledge. The school should ensure that the way the curriculum is taught supports pupils to learn and remember what is intended.
• Until recently, governors have not monitored or held leaders to account with enough rigour or consistency. This means that weaknesses in the quality of education have not been challenged or addressed with enough urgency. Governors should strengthen the way that they hold leaders to account, so that pupils are supported to achieve more highly.
• The school has not fully trained staff to manage pupils' behaviour in an effective way. This means that learning in class is sometimes disrupted. The school should implement its new approach to managing behaviour to enable learning to proceed without interruption.

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