Downholland-Haskayne Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School

Overview

This small primary school provides a “safe, happy place to learn” where pupils feel they belong and treat others with “thought and consideration.” While the school has made “much-needed refinements” to its curriculum and teaching since January 2025, weaknesses in curriculum design and leadership mean some pupils are not yet well prepared for their next stage of education.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate good behaviour and personal development, becoming “respectful, responsible British citizens.”
• The school effectively supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring their needs are “identified, understood and supported.”
• Reading provision is strong; staff teach phonics accurately and enthuse children about stories, helping them develop important reading skills.
• Attendance is monitored closely, with most pupils attending school regularly.
• Staff receive helpful support and training, and the school communicates “very well with parents.”

Areas to improve

• The school must ensure all curriculums are “equally well thought out” so that essential knowledge is clear and pupils are securely prepared for their next stage of education.
• Governors need to gain a better understanding of the school’s curriculum strengths and priorities to “more effectively fulfil their statutory responsibilities.”
• Leadership of some aspects of the school’s work requires development to better support staff and improve teaching.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”