Whitley Park Primary and Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 2 June 2026

Whitley Park Primary and Nursery School plays a crucial part in pupils’ daily lives. Pupils value their friendships. They recognise the positive impact committed staff have on them. The school's values of 'Aspire, Believe, Achieve' underpin work to develop pupils' aspirations, confidence and independence and help prepare them for their next steps. Supportive relationships between staff and pupils reinforce these values. Pupils feel a collective sense of belonging. Staff support those who join part-way through a year or key stage to integrate quickly and confidently into school life. Pupils feel safe. Calm, nurturing spaces, for example the school's 'Bumblebees’ setting, are welcoming and supportive. Pupils experience a broad and balanced curriculum across all key stages and enjoy their learning. Staff have high expectations and pupils approach their learning with curiosity. Sometimes, pupils achieve well. However, some pupils have gaps in their knowledge. When they encounter more demanding work, they lack some of the foundations that would help them engage successfully. This means that pupils do not achieve as well as they should and results are below national outcomes. The school’s curriculum expands vocabulary for all pupils, including those who speak English as an additional language. Pupils who face barriers to their learning, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, benefit from effective support that enables them to make secure progress. Pupils who attend regularly benefit fully from the school’s positive learning environment. However, some pupils’ absences remain too frequent, limiting the potential benefits of the well-designed curriculum. Leaders and staff have developed high expectations of behaviour. Consequently, pupils behave well. Bullying is rare, but when concerns arise, staff act swiftly to provide the right support.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that they embed and sustain their actions to bring pupils' attendance at least in line with national averages.
• Leaders should consistently embed improvement to the curriculum and teaching to ensure that pupils strengthen their foundational knowledge, making sure that any gaps are addressed and pupils achieve at least in line with national expectations over time.
• In the early years, leaders should ensure that staff maximise opportunities for children’s learning through consistently high-quality interactions across all areas of provision.
• Leaders should continue to develop strong partnerships with parents and carers in support of the school's work.

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