Tubbenden Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 16 May 2023

Leaders make sure that 'knighthood' core values underpin the work of the school. Pupils model keenly the school's values, including respect, excellence and honesty. In assemblies, leaders award 'knighthoods' to pupils who have consistently demonstrated these qualities. Leaders have high expectations of pupils. They have thought carefully about the design of the curriculum, including for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in mainstream and in the additionally resourced provision. Pupils are happy and safe. Leaders make sure that the school is purposeful and calm. Pupils are encouraged to respect differences and to talk with maturity about what makes people different. They have plenty of opportunities to take on responsibility, including as prefects, peer mediators and play leaders. Leaders organise a variety of clubs for pupils to attend. These include girls' football, yoga and mindfulness. In addition, leaders organise educational visits for all pupils which are connected to their learning. For example, pupils in Year 2 visited St Paul's Cathedral when learning about the Great Fire of London and in Year 5, pupils went to a local observatory to learn about the solar system.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have not systematically identified and sequenced the key knowledge and skills that children need to know throughout their time in the early years. This means that children do not develop equally secure knowledge and skills across all areas of the early years foundation stage. Leaders should ensure that children follow a well-sequenced curriculum from the beginning of the early years. They should ensure that this curriculum logically builds on children's prior knowledge.
• Sometimes, teaching does not identify where pupils have not remembered what they have been taught. This means that some pupils do not embed key knowledge in their long-term memory, and they are unable to connect new knowledge to what they have learned previously. Leaders should make sure that teaching checks that pupils remember what they have been taught and identifies and addresses any gaps or misunderstanding.

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