Thurston Church of England Primary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 November 2024

Pupils enjoy learning in this friendly, inclusive school. They speak confidently about the 'Thurston Way' and how it underpins the school's high expectations of their behaviour. Pupils typically behave well and work hard. They know the importance of making the right choices. Pupils' achievement is improving across most subjects. In the early years, children follow adult guidance enthusiastically as they learn to read and to use their early mathematics skills. They play cooperatively together. Ensuring that all pupils read well is at the heart of the curriculum. Pupils enjoy sharing stories with their teachers in every class. Parents appreciate the guidance that they get to help their child with reading at home. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learn well alongside their peers. Extra, effective help is on hand when required. This includes for some pupils who need more time to build confidence in smaller 'nurture' groups. Everyone is made to feel welcome. New pupils settle in quickly, including those who join the school at a later stage in their education. Pupils feel safe. They can explain how they are taught to stay safe in different situations. The pupil collective worship leads play an active role in celebrating the school's values.

What the school should improve

• Some curriculum changes are still embedding. In a few subjects there is a mismatch between the intended learning and the activities that pupils are expected to complete. This means that, occasionally, those who could achieve more are not given demanding enough tasks. For others, gaps in learning are not addressed quickly enough. Consequently, pupils do not learn as much, or as deeply, as they could. The school and the trust should ensure that staff are consistent in using assessment information effectively, so that pupils receive demanding work, have their gaps in learning addressed and therefore achieve as well as possible.
• A few pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, do not attend school regularly enough. As a result, they fall behind with their learning and miss many of the opportunities that the school's broad curriculum provides. Working closely with the trust, the school should identify any further barriers to attendance, while accelerating actions to remove them, so that persistent absence continues to reduce.

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