St Mark's CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 April 2024

Pupils are happy in school. They spoke excitedly about the array of clubs and opportunities available to them. These appeal to a wide range of talents and interests and contribute strongly to pupils' wider development. Pupils behave well. They are guided by the school's values and know how important it is to be trustworthy and respectful. Children in the early years develop strong learning behaviours quickly. They become increasingly independent and confident. Pupils throughout the school build securely on these firm foundations. They listen carefully in lessons and focus on the task in hand. The school has unstintingly high expectations for pupils' achievement. This includes for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils benefit from warm and supportive relationships with staff. This gives them the confidence to try their best and to be unafraid to make mistakes. Pupils typically achieve well across a broad range of subjects. They achieve remarkably well in reading and mathematics. Pupils are confident and articulate when sharing their learning and expressing their thoughts and ideas. Pupils take on positions of responsibility with enthusiasm because they want to make a difference. For example, pupils who are members of the school parliament are proud of their pivotal role in creating a quiet space in the playground.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, there is a lack of clarity about the essential knowledge that teachers should focus on when they design learning. This means that some pupils do not recall and build on prior learning as well as they could. The school should ensure that, in these few remaining subjects, teachers know precisely what knowledge must be taught, emphasised and recalled to support pupils' future learning more effectively.

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