Trinity St Mary's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Woodham Ferrers

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 March 2023

Trinity St Mary's is a place where pupils and children are happy and looked after. Pupils enjoy their lessons. They like how the school's themed weeks, for example, 'detective week', are fun and help them to remember their learning. Pupils know that their teachers will support them to do their best, even when they find learning tricky. Pupils enjoy reading. Many take part in the school's 'book bingo' initiative. Children in the early years, including the pre-school, are confident, resilient individuals who are enthusiastic about their learning. Pupils live up to the school's values. This is shown by their dedication to learning and kindness to others. If there is a problem on the playground or in class, it is sorted out by pupils themselves, or by adults if needed. Pupils trust adults to look after them. Bullying is rarely an issue, as most pupils behave well. In class, pupils enjoy the challenge of learning. It is not often that learning is disrupted by poor behaviour. In every year group, pupils experience a range of different clubs, trips and visits. These include activities such as 'newspaper club', public speaking and archery. Pupils have a range of opportunities to take on responsibilities, such as the school council. There is something for everyone to get involved in.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of instances, curriculum documentation focuses on activities rather than well-sequenced subject knowledge. In these cases, it is harder for teachers to support pupils to get better and grow their knowledge consistently over time. Leaders should ensure that all curriculum plans identify the important knowledge that pupils need to know and provide the necessary detail for teachers to plan pupils' learning effectively.
• Some subject leaders are new to their role, and their work has only just started. They are just getting to grips with what works best in their curriculum areas and what needs to improve further. Leaders should ensure that all curriculum leaders access high- quality training and development so that they can evaluate and implement the intended curriculum successfully.

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