Upham Church of England Aided Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 June 2026

Pupils are greeted warmly each day as they arrive at this welcoming school. They feel safe, happy and valued. Staff know pupils well and build positive relationships with them. Pupils trust adults and know that any worries will be listened to and addressed. Many pupils describe the school as being like a family. Behaviour is calm and positive. Pupils understand leaders' expectations and meet them well. They treat one another with kindness and respect. Playtimes are happy and purposeful, with pupils enjoying time with friends and taking part in a range of activities. Adults supervise pupils carefully and provide positive support. Pupils have a clear understanding of bullying. They know the difference between bullying and occasional unkind behaviour. Pupils are confident that staff will deal with concerns quickly and effectively. This helps pupils feel secure. Pupils enjoy learning and take pride in their work. They work hard in lessons and respond positively to feedback. Younger pupils are curious, confident and eager to share their ideas. Overall, pupils achieve well. The school supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities effectively. Staff understand individual needs and adapt learning appropriately. Leaders work closely with families to ensure that pupils receive the support they need. As a result, pupils participate fully in school life and learn successfully alongside their peers. Pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities beyond the classroom, including clubs, trips, residential visits and leadership roles. Older pupils value serving as buddies for younger children and speak thoughtfully about the responsibility this brings. Leaders work hard to ensure that all pupils can take part. These experiences develop confidence, independence and wider personal skills. Pupils enjoy school, feel well cared for and are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should continue to ensure that curriculum and teaching improvements are fully embedded and implemented consistently, so that all pupils can make secure progress across the curriculum.
• Leaders should improve attainment in mathematics at the end of key stage 2, so that pupils’ attainment in published outcomes is consistently high.
• Leaders should ensure that interactions between children and adults in the early years are of a consistently high quality and focus on further developing children's language and communication skills.

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