Havannah First School

Overview

Havannah First School continues to be a good school, fostering a welcoming environment described by pupils as a ‘ginormous family’. Leaders have designed a high-quality curriculum that excites pupils, with strong progress in reading, mathematics, and physical education.

Strengths

• The ‘no outsiders’ project promotes equality, empathy, and teamwork, ensuring everyone feels welcome.
• Reading is a key priority, with clear phonics teaching and daily checks helping pupils become ‘fluent, skilled readers’.
• Children in Reception make a ‘fast start in learning’, demonstrating a deep understanding of number and phonic sounds.
• Staff morale is high, with leaders actively reducing workload and valuing teamwork.
• Pupils develop strong characters through diverse opportunities, including visits to museums and roles like ‘digi-leaders’.

Areas to improve

• The curriculum in some foundation subjects is not as well mapped out as in others.
• Leaders must ensure staff identify the most important knowledge pupils need to know and remember.
• Teachers and pupils must be ‘crystal clear about the main ideas that link learning’ across all subjects.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff following the mantra of ‘it could happen here’ and leaders taking prompt action to address concerns.