Downshall Primary School

Overview

Downshall Primary School is described as a "warm and nurturing community" where leaders have made "rapid improvements" to the curriculum and teaching. The report highlights that pupils achieve well, with outcomes "above national averages" in key subjects, and benefit from an "aspirational curriculum" that prepares them effectively for the next stage of their education.

Strengths

• The curriculum is "broad and ambitious," enabling pupils to develop a "deep understanding" of subjects and produce work of "high quality."
• Staff possess "excellent subject knowledge" and are skilled at adapting teaching, particularly in early reading where a "systematic and skilful approach" helps pupils gain fluency and confidence.
• Pupils demonstrate a "mature, nuanced understanding" of personal development topics, such as consent and gender equality, and show a "well-developed sense of fairness, respect and responsibility."
• The school’s "intergenerational provision" helps pupils develop empathy and social skills, allowing those previously at risk of disengagement to "flourish academically, socially and personally."
• Leaders prioritise staff wellbeing and professional development, creating an "embedded culture of professional learning" where staff feel "highly valued."

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure new strategies for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are "monitored closely and skilfully adjusted" to further reduce barriers to learning.
• Interactions in the early years should consistently promote language development, ensuring staff take every opportunity to deepen children’s communication skills.
• Leaders should continue to improve attendance by increasing the regular attendance of key groups and raising overall attendance across the school.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.