Willow Grove Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 April 2023

Willow Grove Primary is a welcoming place where pupils are happy. Pupils enjoy coming to school. They have an opportunity to have breakfast and social time when they arrive in the morning. This helps them to be ready for learning. For many pupils, education has been disrupted, and they consequently have gaps in their learning. Staff provide appropriate support to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Overall, pupils achieve well in many subjects. Staff have high expectations of pupils' behaviour. Pupils rise to these expectations. They generally behave well in lessons and around the school. Pupils are typically respectful to each other and staff. Most pupils are attentive in lessons. Pupils feel safe. They develop positive relationships with each other and with staff. On the very rare occasions when bullying occurs, staff deal with it effectively. Pupils are clear about who they should speak to if they are worried about anything. Pupils' personal development is an important priority for leaders. Pupils benefit from a wide range of activities, such as swimming, talent competitions and trips to museums and outdoor residential centres. This helps to broaden their experiences and improve their confidence. Pupils enjoy raising money to support charities. They spoke positively about taking on responsibilities, such as being school councillors and members of the eco-committee. Older pupils enjoy supporting younger pupils to improve their football skills.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, leaders have not ensured that the knowledge pupils should learn is identified in the curriculum. As a result, pupils do not learn some of the building blocks essential for future learning. Leaders should ensure that in these subjects they carefully identify the important knowledge that pupils should be taught.
• In a few subject areas, subject leaders do not make detailed enough checks to make sure that subject curriculums are delivered as intended. This hampers pupils from achieving as well in these subjects as they do in others. Leaders should continue to ensure that subject leaders are trained and supported so that they are able to check that the curriculum is delivered well in all subjects.

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