Woodthorne Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 January 2023

This is a happy and caring school. Leaders and staff have high expectations for pupils' learning and personal development. Pupils fulfil these expectations. The school's values of courage, ambition, respect and excellence (CARE) thread through school life. One pupil explained, 'The values are what we need to show in our lives and in our learning.' Parents and carers hold the school in high regard. One parent said: 'The high standards of learning are only part of the picture here. It's the caring ethos and the values that are instilled and reinforced that help children to grow.' Pupils are successful in this environment. They work hard and are keen to learn. They concentrate well in lessons and are well prepared for the next steps in their education. Pupils feel safe and valued. Leaders ensure that pupils are taught how to stay safe. Bullying is rare. Leaders take any incident seriously, however small, and respond quickly and effectively. Pupils especially love the school fields and woodlands, where they learn and explore environmental issues. Pupils enjoy a wide range of experiences, including trips, visits from local artists and clubs, such as fencing, archery and orienteering. These experiences raise pupils' awareness of their community and the wider world.

What the school should improve

• In some wider curriculum subjects, leaders have not established ways of using assessment effectively. Teachers do not check that pupils understand and remember the important knowledge that they need to master before moving on to more complex ideas or tasks. Leaders should ensure that teachers check learning in the wider curriculum carefully, in order that pupils know and remember more from earlier lessons.

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