The Queen Anne Royal Free CofE Controlled First School

Overview

This inspection found that while the school provides a ‘caring’ environment with ‘warm and supportive’ relationships, the quality of education ‘requires improvement’. Teaching and learning are described as ‘inconsistent across different subjects’, meaning some pupils do not securely learn key content. However, behaviour, personal development, leadership, and early years provision are all rated as ‘Good’.

Strengths

• Children ‘thrive in the impressive early years environment’, where their love for reading is nurtured and phonics teaching is effective.
• The school demonstrates ‘expertise and compassion’ in supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring equity across the curriculum.
• Personal development is a strength, with pupils learning about diverse faiths and cultures, and participating in a ‘rich range of opportunities’ beyond the classroom.
• Attendance has improved significantly, with a ‘supportive approach’ helping disadvantaged pupils attend well.
• Leaders are described as ‘compassionate and dedicated’, and parents speak highly of the ‘friendly ethos’.

Areas to improve

• Lesson tasks must be ‘precisely matched to the aims of the curriculum’ so pupils can learn and remember key content successfully.
• The school must provide effective professional development to ensure teaching is ‘consistently effective across all subjects and classes’.
• Expectations must be clear to all pupils to ensure they show ‘enthusiasm for learning’ and engage positively in lessons.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.