St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 October 2024

Pupils flourish in the welcoming, family atmosphere at this village school. The carefully constructed curriculum supports them to learn effectively. Adults have high expectations of pupils. The school's mantra of 'Aspire, Persevere, Achieve' encourages pupils to aim high and achieve well. Pupils come to school happily, knowing that every day counts. They love learning and are proud of their school. There are respectful relationships throughout the school, between pupils of all ages and between pupils and adults. Older pupils are excellent role models. For example, play leaders take their responsibilities seriously. They support other pupils at lunchtime, on the playground and in the dining hall. The school is very outward-looking. Visits to the Houses of Parliament, a West End musical and various museums help bring learning to life. They take pupils well beyond the familiarity of their rural setting. Residential trips build pupils' independence and resilience. Leadership roles increase their confidence. There are many high-quality, extra-curricular activities for pupils. In democracy week pupils experience an election process, voting for their pupil leaders. In aspirations week they reflect on possible future careers. The St Peter's challenge award teaches pupils about service to others and making a difference. It lays the foundations for responsible citizenship.

What the school should improve

• In some lessons, teachers do not routinely provide pupils with opportunities to extend and deepen their learning. Consequently, pupils do not always achieve as highly as they could. The school should ensure the good practice that exists is consistent across the school and that all staff use a range of pedagogies, so that all pupils can achieve the ambitious aims of the curriculum. Sible Hedingham 3

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