Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy

Inspection of Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy Church Road, Garboldisham, Diss, Norfolk IP22 2SE

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years provision Outstanding

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Overall effectiveness Good

Previous inspection grade Not previously inspected under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Overall effectiveness Good

The headteacher of this school is Mrs. Moira Croskell. This school is part of The Diocese of Norwich St Benet’s Multi-Academy Trust, which means other people in the trust also have responsibility for running the school. The trust is run by the chief executive officer, Richard Cranmer, and overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by Frederick Corbett. 7 and 8 November 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive in this supportive school. They are extremely proud to be part of their small caring community. There is a highly inclusive ethos. Everyone is supported to be involved in all aspects of school life. Pupils relish the many opportunities to develop their leadership skills and take on roles of responsibility, such as house captain, librarian or school council member. Younger pupils aspire to these because older pupils act as excellent role models. Pupils know they can make a positive difference to their school and enjoy debating the different ways they can do so.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils celebrate their differences and achievements. They firmly believe that everyone should be welcomed and treated equally. This permeates the school as pupils support one another and constantly show each other mutual respect.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Everyone remembers the school rules. Pupils conduct and attitudes are exemplary. Pupils take pride in their work and want to achieve their best. Pupils love the sports activities and ‘fun things’ they do that broadens their experiences, as well as complementing their learning. All pupils benefit from high-quality music lessons and learn to play the guitar and trumpet well. Pupils feel thoroughly supported and prepared for their next stage in life.

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better?

Since joining the trust, leaders have reviewed the school curriculum extensively. They prioritised early reading and mathematics, which are taught exceptionally well. Leaders are ambitious for all pupils. They want pupils to love learning and make connections across subjects through a range of carefully considered themes.

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better?

In all subjects, leaders have identified the key knowledge they intend children to learn and by when. Pupils have frequent opportunities to recap their learning to check that their knowledge is secure, so they remember more and achieve well. They find the ‘memory lane’ a helpful prompt. In subjects that have not yet been implemented for a full year, pupils often remember the activity rather than key knowledge. This means pupils miss essential knowledge and need to spend time revisiting learning before they can confidently integrate it into new learning.

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better?

The school has access to a range of specialist professionals that help them identify pupils’ needs early on. Leaders ensure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs met well. Teachers regularly check pupils learning and make appropriate adaptations to teaching. This ensures that pupils that need extra support are given the help they need to keep up.

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better?

Reading is a strength in the school. It is high priority from the moment children start Reception. Staff are well trained. They teach phonics with precision and consistency. Staff are quick to identify the sounds pupils find difficult. They make sure pupils practise these, so that they become fluent readers. Pupils develop great pleasure in 7 and 8 November 2023

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reading. They read stories, poems and extracts from a wide range of different genres, which broadens pupils’ knowledge and expands their vocabulary. Pupils delight in attending the lunchtime reading club and talk in detail about the social and cultural issues in the books they have read.

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Children in Reception get off to an excellent start. They access a wide range of learning experiences that help their all-round development. Adults harness children’s interests and use these to provide a context for them to practise what they have been taught. This quickly helps children learn and remember more. Children are supported exceptionally well to develop their language skills and vocabulary. Adults expertly help children develop resilience and perseverance. Children are helped to develop stamina and proficiency in their physical development as they take part in morning exercise. Children apply their phonics knowledge to practise writing with confidence. All staff are highly ambitious for children, they are excellent role models. In turn, children develop positive attitudes to learning and cooperate well with each other. Children are well prepared for the next stage in the school’s curriculum.

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The way leaders support pupils’ personal development is exceptional. Pupils are kind, caring and know right from wrong. They support charities and contribute to life in the community. As part of the Beacon Federation, pupils have an extensive range of high-quality experiences that broaden their horizons. Pupils interests and talents are extended through after-school club, visits, sports and performing arts activities. Pupils feel confident they are well prepared for secondary school.

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Leaders’ ambition for all pupils and staff permeates the school. Staff speak highly of the extensive professional development opportunities that advance their subject expertise. Trust leaders make informed strategic decisions in the best interests of pupils.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In recently reviewed areas of the curriculum, pupils have not learned enough of the content to understand the new learning. There are instances where pupils remember the activity rather than the essential knowledge intended. This means that pupils do not have all the knowledge they need to integrate into larger ideas as they progress through the curriculum. In these areas, leaders should continue to review the approaches used to teach key knowledge and check pupils learning is secure, so that they can confidently incorporate new knowledge into wider learning across the curriculum. 7 and 8 November 2023

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, 'disadvantaged pupils' is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school's pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 7 and 8 November 2023

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School details

Website https://garboldisham.stbenets.org

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School details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this school

 The school does not currently use any alternative provision.  This school is part of The Diocese of Norwich St Benet’s Multi-Academy Trust, which consists of 13 schools.  This school is a Church of England primary school. The last section 48 inspection took place on 22 September 2016 in the predecessor school and was judged good. The next inspection is due to take place this academic year.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school's education provision. 7 and 8 November 2023

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 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspectors met with the head teacher, members of the senior leadership team, relevant subject leaders, the school special educational needs coordinator, chair of the local governing committee, relevant trust leaders and chief executive officer.  The lead inspector reviewed information on the school’s website, including school policies and information about the curriculum.  Inspectors met with the designated safeguarding leads to discuss arrangements that are in place to support safeguarding. They checked the single central record for pre-employment checks, and the school’s safeguarding records.  Inspectors reviewed the school’s behaviour records, including records of incidents

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of bullying and how these are followed up. The inspector observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and at breaktimes.  The inspectors considered the 44 responses to Ofsted Parent View, including free text comments.

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Inspection team

Mireille MacRaild, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector

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Inspection team

Alison Hughes Ofsted Inspector 7 and 8 November 2023

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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