Heathwood Lower School

Overview

Heathwood Lower School continues to be a good school, described as a "calm and purposeful place to learn" where pupils are happy, polite, and confident. Leaders have established an ambitious, broad, and balanced curriculum that fosters strong relationships, kindness, and a positive culture of reading and behaviour.

Strengths

• Pupils learn an "interesting and stimulating curriculum" and are "focused and engaged in lessons," with particularly effective teaching in mathematics.
• There is a "strong culture of reading," supported by an effective phonics programme where children quickly learn to blend sounds and receive timely help if they fall behind.
• Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is a strength, with teachers carefully adapting teaching to meet accurately identified needs.
• Pupils demonstrate "mature levels of self-control and co-operation," and bullying is rare, with staff dealing with issues effectively.
• Governors are "very committed to their role" and use information to challenge and support leaders effectively.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must continue to develop assessment in foundation subjects to identify gaps in experience and knowledge for older pupils who did not benefit from the new curriculum sequencing.
• Leaders should ensure subject leaders are supported to develop their own subject expertise, as recent changes mean some are not yet fully familiar with their new responsibilities.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "strong culture of vigilance and care," well-trained staff, and accurate records of checks and actions.