Southwark Park Primary School, located at 383 Southwark Park Road, Bermondsey, London, SE16 2JH, recently underwent an Ofsted inspection on October 11 and 12, 2023. The school has been rated as Good in overall effectiveness, with specific commendations in various areas of its educational provision.
The inspection team evaluated the school across several key areas, resulting in the following ratings: Quality of Education: Good, Behaviour and Attitudes: Good, Personal Development: Outstanding, Leadership and Management: Good, Early Years Provision: Good. This marks a consistent performance since the previous inspection, which also rated the school as Good.
Southwark Park Primary School prides itself on fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where every pupil is celebrated for their individuality. From the moment pupils and their families join the school, they develop strong relationships with the staff, creating a sense of trust and safety.
Pupils exhibit commendable behaviour both in classrooms and throughout the school premises. They treat one another with respect and patience, contributing to a positive learning atmosphere. The school encourages pupils to take on additional responsibilities, such as participating in the Friends Against Bullying (FAB) initiative, peer mediation, and serving as house captains. These roles not only empower students but also enhance their sense of community.
The school offers a variety of enrichment activities, including partnerships with local sports clubs and charities, which enrich the curriculum and promote mental well-being. The school council has been proactive in initiatives like the mental health declaration, and pupils engage in various extracurricular activities such as football, basketball, hip-hop, drama, and choir.
The curriculum at Southwark Park Primary School is ambitious and aligns with national expectations. Leaders have carefully sequenced the knowledge and skills that pupils are expected to learn over time. This structured approach helps pupils deepen their understanding across subjects. Reading is a priority at Southwark Park, starting from the Nursery, where children are exposed to high-quality texts. The phonics teaching is effective, and staff quickly identify pupils who may struggle, providing timely interventions to ensure they catch up.
The school emphasizes the importance of developing a rich vocabulary for speaking and writing across the curriculum. However, there are areas for improvement in consistently modeling vocabulary and sentence structure, particularly in early years settings. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Leaders ensure that staff are well-trained to adapt tasks and activities, allowing all pupils to access the same curriculum as their peers.
Despite the many strengths, the inspection identified some areas for improvement: Consistency in Assessment: There are occasions where assessment practices are not consistently applied, leading to some errors and misconceptions in pupils' learning not being addressed swiftly. The school needs to ensure that assessment is used effectively to check pupils' understanding. Language Modeling in Early Years: In early years, language is not always modeled with sufficient accuracy or precision. The school should provide appropriate training to maximize language use and modeling throughout early years provision.
The arrangements for safeguarding at Southwark Park Primary School are effective, ensuring that pupils are kept safe and secure in their learning environment. Southwark Park Primary School has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing a high-quality education for its pupils. With a focus on personal development, an ambitious curriculum, and effective support for all learners, the school is well-positioned to continue its positive trajectory. Addressing the identified areas for improvement will further enhance the educational experience for all pupils, ensuring they are well-prepared for their future endeavors. For more information about the school, visit their website at www.southwarkparkschool.co.uk.
