Hungerford Primary School

Inspection of a school judged good for overall effectiveness before September 2024: Hungerford Primary School Fairview Road, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0BT

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Outcome

Hungerford Primary School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at this friendly and welcoming school. They are happy and enjoy playing with their friends. Relationships between staff and pupils are positive. Pupils know that adults care for them and are there to support them both academically and emotionally. The school’s core values of kindness, responsibility, resilience, curiosity, aspiration, community and mindfulness shine through in every aspect of school life.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school is ambitious for its pupils and wants them to achieve well. Pupils work hard to meet the high expectations that are set for them. Pupils behave well. In and around the school, they treat each other with respect and kindness.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school has high ambitions for pupils’ wider development. They learn that they can make a difference such as through raising money for charity and enterprise initiatives. Pupils value the many opportunities provided to take on roles and responsibilities, for instance play leaders. They develop their understanding of the environment and sustainability. For example, pupils on the eco-committee make compost, which is then used by the gardening club to grow vegetables. Pupils learn to look after their physical and mental health. For example, they enjoy using the school grounds to walk the ‘daily mile’.

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

The school’s curriculum is ambitious and well designed. It builds sequentially and sets out the knowledge that pupils need to learn as they progress through the school.

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

Teachers have good knowledge of the subjects they teach. There are regular checks on pupils’ learning, for example in subjects such as English and mathematics. However, in 24 and 25 June 2025

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some subjects, teaching does not provide opportunities for pupils to revisit prior learning. As a result, pupils do not build on what they already know. When this happens, they do not develop a secure understanding.

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The school is a highly inclusive environment. Staff identify and meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities effectively. Where necessary, teachers make suitable adaptations to the curriculum to support pupils’ learning. This helps them to achieve and flourish. When appropriate, the school seeks advice from specialist agencies to provide timely, tailored support.

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The school places a high priority on reading. Staff are well trained. They are skilled in helping pupils quickly secure the phonics knowledge needed to become confident readers. Reading books are well matched to pupils’ phonics knowledge. Any pupils who have fallen behind are given support to help them catch up.

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Children in the early years flourish. They are nurtured through caring relationships, which develop their self-confidence and curiosity. Staff ensure that learning activities are focused on improving children’s communication and language skills. Children benefit from a stimulating environment that provides a range of purposeful learning opportunities. Children were fascinated, for instance, when watching how caterpillars changed to emerge as butterflies.

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Pupils behave well throughout the school. They learn about the link between relationships and managing feelings through the school’s personal, social and health education programme. Overall attendance is in line with national averages. Where needed, the school works closely with pupils and their families to improve attendance.

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There is a strong provision to support pupils’ wider development. Pupils learn about global issues such as the impact of pollution. The school ensures that pupils are well prepared for life beyond school. For example, useful skills such as first aid and money management are built into the curriculum. Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe, both in the physical world and when online.

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Pupils demonstrate a good understanding of fundamental British values. They know it is wrong to discriminate. Pupils visit the local council to learn about the democratic process. Pupils are keen to contribute to the local community. They take part in many local events. Year 2, for instance, recently visited a local radio station and presented the weather forecast live on air. These experiences help to develop pupils’ confidence and self-belief.

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The school is continually seeking ways to refine its work. Leaders are committed to continuing improvements. Staff appreciate the support they have from leaders, including the consideration given to their workload. Members of the governing body are effective in fulfilling their roles. They ensure that statutory responsibilities are met.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 24 and 25 June 2025

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In a few subjects, teaching does not help pupils build their knowledge as well as it could. Consequently, some pupils do not develop a secure understanding of the knowledge the school sets out for them to learn. The school should ensure that teaching supports pupils effectively with their learning so they achieve well across the curriculum.

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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 first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good for overall effectiveness in January 2020.

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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. 24 and 25 June 2025

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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). 24 and 25 June 2025

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Website www.hungerfordprimaryschool.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 21 and 22 January 2020, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The headteacher was appointed in September 2024.  The school does not make use of 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.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspector met the headteacher and other staff.  The inspector met with a representative from the local authority. She met with the chair and vice-chair of the governing body.  The inspector visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers and curriculum leaders, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector reviewed the single central 24 and 25 June 2025

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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’ interests first.  The inspector considered responses to Ofsted Parent View, including the free-text comments. The inspector spoke with parents at the end of the school day and considered responses to Ofsted’s online staff survey.

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Inspection team

Liz Bowes, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector 24 and 25 June 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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