Priory Common School

Overview

Priory Common School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at its previous inspection. The school is described as a “happy, vibrant and safe place” where pupils develop confidence through “strong and respectful relationships with the staff.” Leaders have high expectations for behaviour and achievement, resulting in pupils who “achieve well and behave positively.”

Strengths

• Pupils are “confident and fluent readers” benefiting from “effective phonics teaching” and prompt support for those falling behind.
• Staff effectively promote “communication and language skills” by modelling spoken language, introducing new vocabulary, and engaging pupils in discussions.
• The school swiftly identifies pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and provides support to enable them to “access the full curriculum.”
• Pupils demonstrate kindness and responsibility, taking on leadership roles and participating in a “broad range of wider activities.”
• Staff workload and well-being are considered, and professional development opportunities enable staff to support pupils effectively.

Areas to improve

• In a few foundation subjects, recent curriculum developments are “not embedded fully,” meaning pupils do not always acquire the depth of knowledge securely and consistently.
• The school should “evaluate the curriculum changes carefully” to ensure pupils achieve well across all subjects.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.