Huntington Community Primary School faced its first Ofsted inspection since the Covid-19 pandemic in June this year, and the report published last week shows it is rated ‘Good’ in all areas.
Inspectors noted the 388 pupils attending the school enjoyed it, behaved well, and classrooms were calm. They added: “Leaders and staff are highly ambitious for the achievement of all pupils, including those with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils.”
In addition, inspectors said: “Pupils, including the youngest, are polite and well mannered. They speak confidently and articulately with visitors.”
An “ambitious curriculum” included opportunities to learn in the school’s grounds and, with early years teaching of phonics, “by the end of key stage 1, most pupils read fluently and confidently,” while “older pupils read fluently with expression, intonation and a real sense of understanding.”
In addition, staff were “proud to work at the school” and “talked positively about the strong and supportive teamwork”.
Addressing where the school can improve further, inspectors said in some foundation subjects, leaders do not have a clear enough understanding of how well the curriculum is implemented and the impact it has on pupils’ learning, and sometimes teachers did not identify where there are gaps in pupils’ learning.
Huntington Community Primary School last had an inspection in February 2018, termed a ‘short inspection’, and prior to that was rated Good in a full inspection held in 2012.
This was the first routine inspection the school received since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with school leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.
