The Canterbury Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 December 2022

Pupils thrive in this school. They form positive relationships with one another and enjoy spending time with their peers, both in class and when at play. This is reflected in the comment of one child who said, 'Everyone is really friendly here.' Pupils behave well in class and around the school. This creates a climate where pupils feel happy and safe. On the rare occasions that pupils misbehave or bully, adults require them to think through their actions. This helps pupils to correct their behaviour and restore friendships with one another. Leaders have high expectations for all pupils. They have created a curriculum that interests and enthuses pupils to learn. Most pupils develop the knowledge and skills needed to succeed across the curriculum. Staff support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well. Pupils are confident in class because of the well- structured support they receive. Pupils have rich opportunities to learn beyond the curriculum. For example, pupils engage in stage performances and fundraising events and visit the forest school. Activities such as these help pupils to feel part of the school community and build a sense of pride.

What the school should improve

• Teachers' use of assessment in subjects beyond reading and mathematics is not fully established. This means that pupils have gaps in their knowledge in some subjects. Leaders need to clarify how learning is assessed and monitor its impact in subjects beyond reading and mathematics.
• Not enough pupils learn the mathematical knowledge they need to achieve highly. The activities teachers provide in class can, at times, limit some pupils' opportunities to learn. Leaders need to clarify their pedagogical approach to the implementation of mathematics fully to ensure that more pupils build mathematical knowledge effectively.

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