Tewin Cowper Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 November 2024

Pupils are happy in school, and most attend when they should. They know that adults keep them safe and will help them if they have any concerns. Pupils enjoy their lessons. Many are diligent learners. Pupils speak enthusiastically about what they have learned in a range of subjects. However, the school's expectations of what pupils can achieve are not always high enough. Pupils have the capability to achieve more than they currently do. The school recognises this issue and has begun to take steps to improve the quality of education and raise expectations across the school. Although pupils are aware of the school rules, lessons are not always calm. While most pupils follow instructions, incidents of poor behaviour, such as shouting out and not listening to adults in lessons, occur too often. This low-level disruption interrupts learning. Adults do not consistently enforce high expectations for behaviour. Pupils enjoy taking on responsibilities in various roles. They appreciate the wide range of clubs and value the school trips that enhance their learning. Pupils share their understanding confidently about the cultures and religions they have studied. They respect differences and can discuss prejudice and injustice in the world thoughtfully.

What the school should improve

• There are inconsistencies in teaching across the school, including in the early years. Often, activities do not support pupils in learning the intended curriculum. In some instances, this leads to pupils missing important knowledge. The school needs to ensure that staff have the knowledge and expertise to deliver and adapt the curriculum effectively, helping pupils to learn and retain important knowledge for deeper learning.
• Assessments of learning in English are not consistently accurate or effective. Some pupils have not acquired the foundational skills that they need in reading and writing. Where this is the case, they do not achieve well enough. The school needs to ensure that all staff implement the school's assessment and feedback systems effectively.
• In too many lessons, pupils do not listen to teachers' instructions. Pupils shout out and talk over each other, disrupting the lesson and reducing valuable learning time. Leaders must ensure that all staff are trained and supported to consistently apply the school's behaviour policy, reducing low-level disruption and fostering a calm and positive learning environment for all pupils to be successful learners.
• The governing body does not have a clear enough understanding of the school's strengths and areas for improvement. As a result, it is not holding the school sufficiently accountable for improvements in the quality of education and behaviour. Governors require further guidance and support to develop a more strategic approach so that they can better challenge leaders, monitor progress and ensure that the necessary actions are taken to drive improvements across the school.

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