The Phoenix Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 June 2025

Pupils smile broadly as they walk happily into school. They rise to the high expectations set in this warm and welcoming environment. Most pupils achieve well, personally and academically, especially in their writing. They are extremely proud of their school and eager to show off their work. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learn well alongside their classmates. Pupils build the knowledge and skills needed to prepare them well for their next stage in education. Typically, pupils attend school regularly because they enjoy being here. Overall, pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning are impressive. Pupils who struggle to manage their emotions are supported sensitively to improve. Pupils know they are safe in school. They trust staff to help if they are worried. In the early years, children respond quickly to staff guidance and the expected routines. The school's values of aspiration, enjoyment, resilience and respect are reflected in daily school life. Pupils are kind and thoughtful in their relationships with others. They enjoy the opportunities to contribute to the school community in roles, including as junior governors, prefects and pupil librarians. During sports day, pupil sports leaders, for example, were exemplary role models for their younger peers.

What the school should improve

• Occasionally, activities are not as closely matched as they could be to what pupils know and can do. This means that for some pupils learning slows as they wait for others to catch up. The school and the trust should ensure that staff are confident in using their knowledge of what pupils know and can do, so that pupils are supported routinely to achieve their best.
• In a few foundation subjects, curriculum changes are more recent. Where this is the case, approaches to checking pupils' learning are still evolving. This means that the school does not always have the detailed information needed to identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge and skills quickly. The school and the trust should complete ongoing curriculum evaluations and implement further changes needed promptly, so that pupils experience the same high-quality in all aspects of their learning.

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