Sidmouth Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 November 2022

Pupils enjoy attending this inclusive and welcoming school. Leaders' high expectations and drive for improvement ensure that pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Pupils behave well. Staff respond quickly if pupils have any worries or concerns, including about bullying. This helps pupils feel safe in school. A large number of pupils start the school at different points in the school year. Teachers make sure that teaching builds on what new pupils already know. This helps pupils to settle well and quickly begin to make progress. Careers events help pupils to understand that their education is for a purpose. Leaders encourage pupils to flex their 'learning muscles' by having a go and not giving up. This helps pupils to develop positive attitudes to learning and to build skills that will be important in later life. Leaders provide pupils with an ambitious range of experiences. Pupils learn about higher education and democracy by visiting the local university and the Houses of Parliament. They value learning about important issues, such as equality. For example, a recent study of black history has helped pupils to learn about people who have stood up to racism, such as Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela.

What the school should improve

• Too many pupils are absent too often. This means that some pupils miss out on important learning, which hinders their achievement. Leaders should ensure that the number of pupils who are persistently absent reduces.
• In some subjects, such as geography and history, leaders have not identified how pupils' knowledge of subject-specific concepts should develop over time. This means that some pupils do not develop sufficient depth of knowledge. Leaders should work with teachers to ensure that pupils acquire deep knowledge and skills across all subjects.

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