Southwold Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 October 2024

Pupils talk excitedly about many aspects of their learning. They enjoy the activities in their lessons. A typical view is that teachers 'bring things to life' and this helps pupils to remember what they have learned. Pupils demonstrate an eagerness to learn. Pupils who attend the school throughout their primary education achieve well. Pupils have respectful and trusting relationships with adults and each other. They behave well, are safe at school and keen to help each other both when playing and in the classroom. The curriculum includes many opportunities that enhance and extend pupils' knowledge and understanding outside of the classroom. This includes fieldwork, participation in sustainability projects and arts festivals. Pupils can join clubs that develop many of their talents, for example sports, cooking, art and beach club. Pupils can apply for a range of leadership roles, including house captains, digital leaders, reading and learning ambassadors. These opportunities enable pupils to develop their social skills and use what they have learned in a range of contexts. They collaborate in project work with local charities and wildlife trusts. Pupils regularly sing at an old people's home and take part in the mayor's inaugural parade each year. Pupils are being well prepared for their future lives.

What the school should improve

• Where the curriculum has more recently been implemented, teachers do not routinely provide enough opportunities to consolidate and extend pupils' learning. For example, in mathematics, there are occasions when pupils do not regularly practise their reasoning and problem-solving skills. This means pupils do not use what they know in more complex areas of mathematics. Leaders must ensure that teachers continue to receive the appropriate training and embed these regular opportunities within the curriculum so that pupils can achieve as highly as possible.
• Sometimes, pupils are not routinely remembering to take care when using their knowledge of punctuation and grammar in their writing. This impacts on the quality of what pupils are writing across the curriculum. Leaders must continue to prioritise improving pupils' writing skills so that pupils can effectively communicate what they have learned in their writing.

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