Husborne Crawley Lower School

Overview

Pupils “thrive” at this close-knit lower school, where they are “valued and cared for by dedicated staff.” The inspection found that leaders have developed a “broad and well-designed curriculum” that prepares pupils well for middle school, supported by a “strong culture of positive behaviour.” Personal development is judged as “Outstanding,” with pupils growing into “exceptionally mature, confident and respectful young people.”

Strengths

• Pupils are “calm and focused in lessons” and behave “extremely well,” with bullying reported as non-existent.
• The teaching of phonics is “effective,” ensuring most pupils become “fluent readers” through high expectations and frequent repetition.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive “carefully adapted” teaching and “effective individual and group support,” allowing them to access the same learning as peers.
• Leaders promote personal development “exceptionally well,” providing a “well-structured personal, social and health education programme” and wide leadership opportunities.
• Staff are “vigilant” regarding safeguarding, reporting concerns “promptly, however slight,” and taking “effective action” to support vulnerable pupils.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure that in a small number of subjects, the “important knowledge pupils need to know” is “precisely identified” to match the high standards of the rest of the curriculum.
• Assessment systems in a few subjects need development so teachers can “routinely able to accurately identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge,” drawing on effective practice already seen in mathematics.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with leaders ensuring pupils’ safety is a priority and staff receiving regular training.