The Cowplain School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 5 March 2024

Pupils value the warm and welcoming atmosphere here. They are motivated to work hard and be successful. The school's high expectations are evident in many aspects of day-to-day life. Most pupils strive to meet these expectations and conduct themselves sensibly in lessons and around school. Pupils appreciate the support they get from staff, which helps them learn well. While attendance is improving, there remains a small number of pupils who do not attend as often as they should. Relationships between staff and pupils are based on mutual respect. Staff show a genuine care for pupils, who feel safe and happy at this school. Pupils understand the importance of respecting differences between people and celebrating diversity. Should any bullying or discrimination occur, pupils rightly trust that staff will listen and deal with it effectively. The school is ambitious for pupils to develop their character. For instance, learning is enriched through a vast number of clubs, experiences and trips. Some pupils also flourish in leadership positions by being a 'reading buddy' or as a member of the school council. Pupils are proud to hold these roles and know that they are making a positive contribution to their wider community.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes teachers do not check what pupils know and understanding carefully enough before moving them on to new learning. When this is the case, gaps and misconceptions are not addressed effectively. As a result, some pupils do not learn as well as they could. The school should ensure that teachers assess pupils' knowledge consistently accurately, to enable them to make informed decisions about what to teach next.
• Leaders, including trustees, do not have a precise enough understanding of how well staff are implementing agreed policies and procedures to deliver the curriculum. This means that a few elements of curriculum implementation are inconsistent. Leaders and trustees should ensure that quality assurance procedures give an accurate view of how well pupils are achieving across all year groups and make sure the curriculum is adjusted to meet pupils' needs effectively.

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