Witney Community Primary School

Overview

Pupils “flourish” at this community school, developing into “responsible, articulate and impressive young people” within a “calm and welcoming ethos.” The leadership team has driven “significant and positive changes” since the previous inspection, establishing a strong vision that ensures children are safe and receive a high-quality education.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate excellent behaviour, being “kind and considerate to all” and actively supporting younger peers.
• Reading is “at the heart of the curriculum,” with early reading taught well from day one and a “deep love of reading” fostered by staff.
• Leaders effectively support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, providing staff with the information needed to help them “learn the same curriculum as their peers.”
• Personal development is a strength, with pupils learning about “healthy relationships and safety” and engaging in community projects like the local foodbank.
• Staff appreciate the support provided by leaders, particularly regarding their “workload and wellbeing.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure clarity on how “essential knowledge in each subject should build over time” in a small number of subjects where curriculum thinking is still developing.
• Staff should routinely recap prior learning across the entire curriculum to help pupils link new learning to existing understanding and move it to “long-term memory.”

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with robust risk assessments, diligent checks, and staff who know exactly what to do if they have a concern about a pupil.