The Priory Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 May 2026

The Priory Church of England Primary School is a welcoming place to learn. The school is at the heart of the locality. Pupils and parents appreciate the caring ethos which is underpinned by the school’s distinctive values. Staff greet pupils warmly. They build trusting relationships, which help pupils settle and develop a sense of belonging. Most pupils attend well. Pupils feel safe and know that staff will help them if they have any worries. Bullying is not tolerated. The school has been through a period of change. Leaders have begun to stabilise the school. They have accurately identified and prioritised areas to strengthen. This is starting to bear fruit in some areas. Nevertheless, there remains more to do to ensure that pupils receive the quality of education they should. This is because the way the curriculum is taught does not help pupils to know and remember important information. Consequently, pupils are not well prepared for their next stage of education. Some pupils who are disadvantaged, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those facing other barriers to learning do not receive the support they need to progress well from their starting points. In addition, staff do not implement the behaviour policy consistently. Therefore, not all pupils understand behaviour expectations. Despite these weaknesses, pupils appreciate opportunities to develop their interests. For example, pupils enjoy clubs such as tennis and cricket. Pupils relish opportunities to display their talents through community performances. They benefit from leadership opportunities. Older pupils are ‘buddies’ to younger children. Through these responsibilities they develop a sense of accountability and independence. Social times are positive and typically harmonious. Pupils make warm friendships. They play together safely and use equipment responsibly. Pupils benefit from a range of educational visits. For example, pupils visit the Houses of Parliament to deepen their understanding of democracy.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities benefit from precise support so that they progress well from their starting points.
• Leaders should ensure that teachers and those with subject oversight strengthen their expertise so that the curriculum is taught well and its impact checked, so that pupils secure the important knowledge and skills they need for their next stage of education.
• Leaders should ensure that assessment is used to identify and address misconceptions and gaps in learning so that pupils build successfully on their previous learning.
• Leaders should ensure that staff implement the school's expectations for behaviour consistently so that pupils understand what is expected of them and behave well.

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