Southwood Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 July 2023

This is a school where everyone is made to feel welcome. Pupils are thoughtful and show respect to others, and they are happy and feel safe. Leaders have high expectations for pupils' behaviour and make standards clear. Throughout the school, behaviour is sensible, and classrooms are calm, including in the early years. Pupils are encouraged to learn from any mistakes and to make amends to put things right. Pupils are encouraged to take on various leadership roles, including as ambassadors for community and culture, reading, and health. Pupils comment that they enjoy these roles because they include everyone in making decisions. Leaders ensure that the wider curriculum develops pupils' care for their community. For example, pupils regularly take food to the local foodbank and raise money for those in need. Staff have high aspirations for pupils. Leaders have ensured that pupils have plenty of learning opportunities and experiences. Leaders organise a range of outings to consolidate pupils' learning in class, including a residential journey to Wales and visits to places of worship and to local government buildings.

What the school should improve

• For pupils with SEND, the essential knowledge that leaders want pupils to know and remember is not routinely defined or explicit. This results in some pupils with SEND missing key components of knowledge or skills. Leaders should ensure that curriculum thinking specifically sets out what they want all pupils to know and be able to do.
• In some subjects, where teaching does not typically follow the sequenced curriculum thinking, pupils do not routinely know and remember more, or they have gaps in understanding. Leaders should ensure that all subjects are taught in line with the sequence of intended learning so that component knowledge builds progressively, ensuring pupils know and are able to do and remember more over time.

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