Sturton by Stow Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 December 2022

Pupils enjoy attending school and value the opportunities staff give them to learn and develop. Pupils feel safe at school. They know that staff are prepared to listen and help with any concerns they have. Children in the early years are well looked after by adults at the school. Pupils quickly understand and live up to the school's values of friendship, aiming high, learning, responsibility and caring. Pupils show their care for others by taking on positions of responsibility at the school, such as serving as peer mentors. Staff know pupils very well and have high expectations of all pupils. They treat every pupil as an individual within this school, and make sure all pupils achieve well. Pupils behave well and are respectful to one another. They move around school calmly. Pupils say, and school records show, that bullying is uncommon at the school. When bullying does occur, staff quickly make sure it stops and does not continue. Pupils take an active role in the further development of the school through the regular house 'chatter groups'. There are lots of opportunities for pupils to be leaders, such as reading ambassadors and school council leaders. Pupils' learning extends beyond the school day. There are many lunchtime and after- school clubs, such as chess, choir and swimming, which they enjoy attending.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have suitably designed and effectively implemented the curriculum in the majority of the subjects. However, in a few subjects, leaders still need to refine the sequence of learning. This means that pupils are not always able to connect their current learning with what teachers have taught before. Leaders should ensure that staff have the opportunity to further develop their subject knowledge in some subjects. They should make sure that subject leaders continue to check what is being taught, and refine the curriculum where required, so pupils can retain and recall prior learning equally as well in all subjects. This is so pupils are even better prepared for their next stage of education.
• Leaders have suitable plans in place that enable them to provide appropriate support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and in ensuring they meet their responsibilities in relation to keeping children safe in education. Nevertheless, in a few instances, the information recorded in such plans is not as detailed as it could be. Leaders should ensure that their plans to support these individual pupils are all of an equally high standard; this is so they can assure themselves that they are working towards providing the best possible education and standard of care for pupils.

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