Dove Holes CofE Primary School

Overview

Pupils are proud to attend this small school, appreciating that ‘everyone knows each other’. The report describes a school with ‘high expectations for pupils’ behaviour’ underpinned by values such as love and forgiveness, resulting in a ‘happier and more harmonious place’. Leaders have developed an ‘ambitious curriculum’ and work closely with partner schools to support staff well-being and reduce workload.

Strengths

• The curriculum is ‘ambitious’ and carefully planned, with subject knowledge becoming ‘increasingly complex and demanding over time’.
• Reading is a ‘non-negotiable’ priority; staff are trained in phonics, and books are ‘closely matched to the sounds they know’.
• Pupils enjoy ‘exciting events’ including outdoor learning sessions where they ‘safely light fires, learn to whittle and build dens’.
• The school provides a ‘strong personal development offer’, broadening pupils’ horizons through careers fairs and ambassador roles.
• Staff benefit from a ‘collegiate approach’ with partner schools, which ‘reduces their workload and supports their well-being’.

Areas to improve

• The curriculum is ‘not consistently delivered as intended’, meaning pupils ‘do not learn as well as they could’ in some lessons.
• The school has ‘not sufficiently developed the ways in which it supports pupils with social and emotional needs’, which can act as a barrier to learning for some pupils with SEND and others.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.