Vauxhall Primary School, located in London, was inspected on 29 and 30 November 2023. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as good, with specific areas such as behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision receiving outstanding ratings. The quality of education and leadership and management were rated as good. The school had previously been inspected 11 years ago, receiving an outstanding grade under a different inspection framework. Since then, the school was exempt from routine inspections until November 2020, resulting in a longer gap between graded inspections. An urgent inspection occurred in October 2018, but this recent inspection reflects the current framework and any changes since the last graded inspection.
Pupils at Vauxhall Primary School are described as very happy and enjoy learning in a calm environment. They embody the school’s core values, demonstrating kindness and respect towards one another. The school prioritizes safety, ensuring that pupils feel secure and know they can approach any adult with concerns. The curriculum is ambitious, particularly in early years, where there are no ceilings on learning. Children engage in creatively designed indoor and outdoor spaces, fostering a love for learning. Older pupils express excitement about the diverse subjects offered and are enthusiastic readers, often choosing books from the school and local library.
The school has designed a broad curriculum that prepares pupils well for future learning stages, with notable success in early years. The curriculum emphasizes language, communication, and number understanding, ensuring children are ready for Year 1. In most subjects, the logical sequencing of knowledge and skills allows pupils to build on prior learning effectively. However, some subjects lack this logical order, hindering pupils' ability to tackle more complex tasks. Additionally, writing outcomes for Year 6 pupils are below the national average, prompting the school to revise its approach to writing instruction.
Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are well supported, accessing the full curriculum. The school quickly identifies additional needs and adapts teaching accordingly. Reading is a priority, with staff trained to implement a consistent reading scheme. Pupils read books that align with their phonetic knowledge, and parents are encouraged to engage with the reading program through workshops and resources.
Behaviour at the school is exemplary, with teachers applying rewards and sanctions consistently. This has resulted in minimal incidents of poor behaviour and minimal disruption during lessons. The school has made significant strides in improving attendance, addressing issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing initiatives like a free breakfast club and a soft start to the school day.
The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, with high participation rates. Pupils contribute positively to the school community through various leadership roles, including anti-bullying and well-being ambassadors. The governance and leadership of the school are strong, with positive feedback from staff and parents regarding training and workload management. Leaders actively engage with parents to foster collaboration for the benefit of pupils.
The safeguarding arrangements at Vauxhall Primary School are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. To improve further, the school needs to embed recent changes to the writing curriculum and ensure that all subjects are sequenced logically to enhance pupils' learning experiences. The school is committed to addressing these areas for improvement to support the ongoing development of its pupils.
