Humshaugh Church of England First School

Overview

Humshaugh Church of England First School continues to be a good school, where pupils thrive amidst "high levels of care, encouragement and support." The inspection confirms that the school maintains strong relationships, high attendance, and a curriculum that prioritises reading and personal development, ensuring pupils are "academically successful" while being nurtured as "kind and caring individuals."

Strengths

• Pupils behave well, with "strong" relationships between staff and pupils, and lessons are "rarely disturbed by inappropriate behaviour."
• Reading is prioritised as the "gateway to future success," with effective support helping pupils become "fluent and confident readers."
• Teachers are "highly creative," making lessons "interesting and engaging," which helps pupils acquire "secure knowledge and understanding."
• The school promotes personal development well through extra-curricular activities and initiatives like "intergenerational coffee mornings" that foster a sense of belonging.
• Governors are "highly skilled and dedicated," considering staff workload and well-being, which ensures staff "feel valued."

Areas to improve

• The school needs to embed an effective assessment system in some subjects to gain a "precise understanding of what pupils know and can do."
• Opportunities for pupils to reason about mathematics are "variable," meaning some lack confidence in "making connections in their learning."

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."