Scarborough, Northstead Community Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 February 2024

Pupils at Northstead are happy and well cared for. They are proud to attend the school. They are polite, friendly and eloquent. The relationships that pupils have with adults in the school are very positive. Pupil leaders, such as the school councillors, carry out their roles with pride. Pupils strive to embody the school's mission: 'To be the best we can be'. Leaders have high expectations for behaviour and attitudes. They have overseen a significant improvement in behaviour across the school. Pupils now understand what it means to be a pupil at Northstead. They are respectful and courteous to each other. Bullying is rare. Staff deal with any incidents of bullying quickly. A team of well-trained staff ensure pupils are safe. Pupils benefit from effective pastoral support for their well-being. One parent summed up the views of many others by saying, 'The staff are friendly and supportive and always willing to help when needed.' Leaders' ambition and expectation for pupils' achievement are high. In some areas, these high expectations are realised. However, in some areas, pupils' achievement does not match the school's intentions. Some pupils do not achieve as well as they should. There are some subject curriculums that require further development.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the curriculums do not identify the key knowledge that pupils should learn. This means that lessons in these subjects do not allow pupils to build knowledge cumulatively in line with the school's intentions. The school must ensure that this key knowledge is clearly identified so that pupils develop a rich and secure base of knowledge.
• Assessment is not used effectively in some subjects. This means that teaching does not consistently address gaps in pupils' learning. The school must develop assessment procedures in these subjects to ensure gaps in pupils' knowledge are closed rapidly.
• Recent improvements to leadership across the school are not secure. This means that ownership of curriculum areas is embryonic. The school must continue with its planned development programme to ensure that subject leaders are able to take ownership of their subjects more effectively.
• In some areas, pupils' achievement is not in line with the school's intentions. This means that some pupils are not well prepared for the next stage of education. The school must ensure that identified priority areas are developed at pace so that outcomes reflect leaders' high ambitions and expectations.

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