Bradfield C.E. Primary School

Inspection of a school judged good for overall effectiveness before September 2024: Bradfield C.E. Primary School Cock Lane, Southend, Bradfield, Reading, Berkshire RG7 6HR

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Outcome

Evidence gathered during this ungraded (section 8) inspection suggests that the school’s work may have improved significantly across all areas since the previous inspection. The school’s next inspection will be a graded inspection.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive in this school that promotes respect, courage and kindness. Pupils love coming to school because of the positive atmosphere. It is a place where they feel happy, safe and motivated to perform well. Strong relationships with staff help pupils to feel secure. Pupils understand and meet the high expectations set for their behaviour and academic success.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school’s values, rules and inclusive culture create a respectful environment, where kindness and respect are the norm. Pupils appreciate these principles, which are evident in their behaviour and interactions. This contributes to an atmosphere where everyone can flourish and feel valued, particularly pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school develops pupils’ character with great care and consideration. Pupils have a strong sense of belonging and are proud to take on responsibilities, such as head boy or girl, be members of the pupil parliament or part of the pupil well-being team. These roles help to promote pupils’ responsibility, teamwork, and leadership. Pupils contribute to school improvement by suggesting ideas like playground zones and a lollipop person. This helps to promote a sense of pride and responsibility.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school sets high expectations for all. It supports pupils to excel through an ambitious curriculum. Pupils are motivated to work hard and achieve their best. The school’s curriculum, spanning from Reception to Year 6, is meticulously designed to be comprehensive and well rounded. 29 April 2025

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Pupils, staff and parents and carers understand the school’s updated behaviour routines well. Children in the Reception Year listen carefully to staff and follow instructions closely. Pupils build on this as they move through the school. They are respectful, focused and engaged in learning without disruptions.

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Teachers are experts because they are supported to continually develop their knowledge about teaching. Teachers explain things clearly. They check to make sure pupils understand and remember what they have learned. Teachers spot and correct mistakes quickly. They break down learning into small steps. This helps pupils to learn well. The school identifies the needs of pupils with SEND effectively. These pupils receive well- considered support. This enables them to learn effectively.

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In the Reception Year, children get off to a strong start with well-planned activities that encourage exploration and learning. Teachers use methods like showing, repeating and asking questions to help children learn and develop new vocabulary. For example, children act out fairy tales using songs and actions. They pay close attention to the words and become increasingly independent in their actions.

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Reading and mathematics are top priorities for the school. The pupil reading ambassadors make book recommendations and read to younger pupils to support and develop a love for reading from an early age. A well-stocked vibrant library, ‘Book Hooks’ and the class reading journals ensure this love of reading continues as pupils move through the school.

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Phonics lessons are well structured and delivered expertly. They help pupils to understand the relationship between sounds and letters. Teachers make sure that pupils read books that match their level of understanding. For those pupils who are at risk of not meeting the school’s expectations, successful catch-up support is provided. This means almost all pupils can read confidently and fluently for their age.

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Well-considered learning activities help pupils to learn the intended curriculum and understand new ideas. For example, in mathematics, pupils use number blocks and place value charts to help them to visualise and grasp new concepts. Pupils who need extra help to catch up benefit from effective support.

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Pupils can join clubs, participate in sports and compete in ‘house activities’. These activities help to develop pupils’ social skills, emotional resilience and a sense of responsibility towards their community. The school’s values and ethos are designed to help pupils understand and learn about the lives and achievements of people from various backgrounds. Pupils gain an understanding and respect for differences between people. They are encouraged to reach their potential and develop an appreciation of other cultures through planned lessons and assemblies.

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The governing body is well informed and helps the school to continuously improve. The school promotes collaboration among staff, supports staff well-being and manages workload effectively. 29 April 2025

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted’s website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade. This school was, before September 2024, judged to be good for its overall effectiveness.

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Background

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school’s work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection is carried out under section 5 of the Act. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

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Background

This is the second ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good for overall effectiveness in May 2016.

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How can I feed back my views?

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, 29 April 2025

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looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 29 April 2025

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 6 and 7 November 2019, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 There have been significant changes to the school’s leadership since the last inspection. The current headteacher has been in post since January 2023.  The school has a religious character. Its most recent section 48 statutory inspection of Anglican and Methodist schools took place in March 2019.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspection team met with the headteacher, as well as with other leaders and staff. The lead inspector met with a representative of the local authority, the chair of 29 April 2025

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governors and two other governors. She also held a telephone conversation with a representative of the diocese.  The inspection team visited a sample of lessons, spoke with pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interest first.  The inspection team considered the views of parents through their responses to the online survey, Ofsted Parent View. The inspectors spoke to parents, staff and pupils at various times throughout the inspection.

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Inspection team

Clare Haines, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Heather Fearn Ofsted Inspector 29 April 2025

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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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