Sherdley Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 January 2023

Pupils thrive at this popular and friendly school. They are proud members of the Sherdley family. Pupils feel safe, happy and well cared for. They value the high-quality pastoral support that leaders and staff provide. Leaders make sure that they deal with any incidents of bullying swiftly and effectively. Pupils show highly respectful attitudes towards each other and their teachers. Leaders have implemented a culture where they expect pupils to try their best and to behave well. Pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), respond well to leaders' high expectations. They are polite and well mannered. Pupils listen attentively to their teachers in lessons. They learn increasingly well across a range of subjects. Pupils strive to make the school the best it can be. They value their leadership roles. Pupils spoke proudly about their work as well-being warriors and as members of the rights respecting team. Older pupils particularly enjoy helping younger children to develop their language and communication skills. Children in the early years settle in well and enjoy learning alongside their classmates. The vast majority of parents and carers, who shared their views with the inspector, hold the school in high regard. They appreciate all that leaders and staff do to make sure that pupils experience a varied and interesting curriculum.

What the school should improve

• Some staff do not follow aspects of the agreed strategies when supporting early readers. This hampers some pupils' progress through the phonics programme. Leaders should make sure that staff receive appropriate training to ensure that they implement the early reading programme effectively and successfully.
• In a small number of subjects, subject leaders have not prioritised the most important concepts that pupils need to encounter and revisit across each key stage and year group. This means that some pupils do not effectively build on their prior knowledge when teachers introduce new learning. Leaders should ensure that, in these subjects, teachers emphasise the most important concepts so that pupils make deeper connections with their learning over time.
• A small number of pupils do not attend school as often as they should. Consequently, they miss valuable learning time, which negatively impacts on their progress through the curriculum. Leaders should ensure that these pupils attend school regularly and on time.

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