Stonesfield Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 October 2024

Pupils are proud of their school. They enjoy learning and experiences such as their weekly forest school sessions. They value these opportunities to learn about nature and the environment. They know how to respect the environment. Older pupils understand the importance of the 'Stonesfield Standards' and how these help them to follow the school's rules and routines. Leaders have high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Since the last inspection, the school has reviewed its curriculum. The school has identified the essential knowledge pupils should know and remember in most subjects. However, the quality of learning activities varies between subjects and year groups. Consequently, pupils are not able to secure curriculum knowledge sufficiently well across the subjects they study. Pupils are happy, polite and respectful. They show positive attitudes to their learning, to each other and to adults. The school has introduced a new behaviour policy and, as a result, most pupils behave well. Pupils feel safe. They know they can talk to an adult if they have concerns. Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe. This includes when they are online and out in the local community. Staff understand their role in promoting a safe and effective learning environment.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the work given to pupils does not enable them to achieve the aims and ambition of the curriculum. As a result, pupils' learning does not build in complexity over time as they have not secured the most important knowledge they must remember. The school must make sure that the tasks given to pupils match the key knowledge and skills the school wants pupils to learn.
• Teachers do not routinely check that pupils understand and remember the intended learning and are ready to move on. There are times when pupils move on to more challenging tasks before they have secured foundational knowledge. At other times, pupils repeat learning that they have already secured. The school must ensure that teachers regularly check what pupils know and can do before they move on.
• The teaching of phonics is inconsistent. Some pupils do not learn to read as well as they could. The school should ensure that all staff use effective strategies consistently well when teaching pupils at the earliest stages of learning to read.

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