Spofforth Church of England Controlled Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 July 2022

Pupils are proud to attend this happy and welcoming school, where everyone knows each other by name. Christian values are at the heart of school life and reflected in the stated ambition to 'love, learn, thrive'. Pupils are confident and articulate. They enjoy leading collective worship and performing in school productions. The interim headteacher, together with other senior leaders, knows the school well and has high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Pupils have positive relationships with staff in school. They enjoy their learning and are enthusiastic in lessons. Pupils appreciate the new outdoor equipment. The majority of pupils play well together during social times. Occasional incidents of name-calling, linked to competitive games, can upset pupils. However, pupils have a good understanding of what bullying is and are adamant this does not happen. Pupils know what to do if it were to happen and they trust leaders to resolve any problems. Pupils say that teachers give them the knowledge that they need to recognise risks. Pupils feel safe in school. Children flourish in early years. Staff quickly establish the important skills needed for learning. They have high expectations and ensure that children are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

What the school should improve

• While teachers are helping pupils to read well, they are not consistently making connections using aspects of phonics teaching to support pupils' emerging spelling. Leaders should ensure that pupils can make and understand these links, and that these connections are reinforced in teaching.
• The wider curriculum is not mapped out and assessed to consistent effect. This leads to gaps in pupils' knowledge in some subjects. Leaders should ensure that staff consistently check pupils' understanding in all subjects to help pupils remember and apply more of what they have been taught.
• Staff are inconsistent in their expectations, so some pupils are less well behaved in less structured times, such as outdoor play. Leaders should ensure that the behaviour approach, in terms of expectations and consequences, is consistent throughout school, so that pupils behave well at all times during the day.

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