Norton St Philip Church of England First School

Overview

Norton St Philip Church of England First School is described as a “welcoming, caring school” where the ethos of “Small Schools, Thinking Big” is evident. Leaders provide an “exciting, rich curriculum” that ignites pupils’ interests, resulting in high staff morale and overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents. The school is rated as Good overall, with Personal development judged as Outstanding.

Strengths

• The curriculum for personal development is “exceptional,” motivating pupils to explore topics such as civil rights and global events, fostering sensitivity and broad understanding.
• Staff forge “supportive relationships” with pupils, ensuring they feel “valued and safe,” with strong pastoral care and effective anti-bullying measures.
• Leaders have high expectations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who “learn the same curriculum as their peers successfully.”
• Reading is prioritised effectively; a recently introduced phonics programme supports early learners, while older pupils become “confident, fluent readers.”
• Staff morale is high, with leaders providing strong support and consideration for workload and well-being.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, the curriculum does not yet support pupils to build the “deep knowledge and skills that they need for what comes next.”
• Leaders need to further develop the curriculum in these specific subjects and check whether pupils “know and remember more as a result.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with staff prioritising safety, undergoing necessary training, and making referrals to specialists when needed.