Glastonbury Thorn School

Overview

Glastonbury Thorn School is described as a “haven of kindness and belonging” where pupils respond positively to high expectations. The inspection found that the school is “well led” and provides an “engaging, meaningful and interesting curriculum” that supports all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Strengths

• Pupils are “thoughtful and reflective individuals” who develop a strong sense of character and enjoy a “happy and harmonious” atmosphere.
• The curriculum is clearly structured with “sticky knowledge” defined for all subjects, ensuring pupils achieve well across the board.
• Staff promote a “love of reading” through diverse texts and dedicated spaces, while early phonics support helps pupils who fall behind to “catch up quickly”.
• Children in the early years get off to a “strong start”, developing “kind, supportive and enduring friendships” and independence.
• Leaders and governors are “unwavering in their determination to seek the best for every child”, with staff appreciating that workload is considered during changes.

Areas to improve

• Teaching occasionally fails to check what pupils understand before moving on to new work, particularly in phonics and the early years, meaning “pupils do not learn as well as they could”.
• The school should ensure all staff use assessment efficiently to adapt teaching and help pupils “secure the important knowledge across the curriculum”.

Safeguarding

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