King’s Oak Primary School, located in New Malden, Surrey, has been recognized as a good school following its inspection on May 22 and 23, 2024. The school fosters a positive environment where pupils treat each other with kindness and care. During breaktimes, students engage in sensible play and support one another, creating a sense of community and belonging. Pupils express pride in their school and actively participate in initiatives to enhance their environment, such as suggesting improvements to the playground.
The school maintains high expectations for pupil achievement, and students generally perform well academically. It offers specially resourced provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring they receive tailored support, including therapeutic and language assistance from trained professionals. This inclusive approach allows all pupils, including those with special educational needs and those who speak English as an additional language, to access a broad curriculum and a variety of extracurricular activities. Weekly ‘golden time’ activities, such as sports and arts, are particularly popular among students.
King’s Oak Primary School emphasizes the importance of developing pupils’ spoken language and early reading skills from the outset. The school provides additional support for those who require it, particularly in communication and language development. Although published outcomes for phonics are below national averages, the structured approach to teaching early reading is effective in helping pupils catch up. Phonics instruction begins in the early years and continues as needed, ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and those learning English as an additional language, receive the necessary support to develop their reading skills.
The curriculum is broad and ambitious, aligned with national standards, and adapted for pupils with special educational needs. The school collaborates with parents and specialists to meet individual pupil needs, and staff receive appropriate training to support these students effectively. The curriculum is designed to build knowledge progressively, allowing pupils to connect new learning with prior knowledge. However, there are instances where gaps in knowledge in foundation subjects are not consistently identified or addressed, which can hinder some pupils' ability to recall and link previous learning to current topics.
The school also prioritizes teaching about diverse religious traditions and the importance of respect for differences among individuals. Pupils are educated on safety, including online safety, and are encouraged to take care of their physical and mental health. The school promotes age-appropriate discussions about relationships and emotional regulation.
Attendance is a focus for the school, with leaders communicating its importance through newsletters and assemblies. The governing body plays an active role in supporting and challenging the school, ensuring that pupil welfare is prioritized. The school environment is conducive to learning, with minimal disruption during lessons.
Safeguarding measures are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. The inspection highlighted the need for the school to improve its approach to identifying and addressing gaps in pupils' knowledge in foundation subjects. By ensuring that checks on pupils' recall of prior knowledge are thorough, the school can enhance its educational provision and support all pupils in achieving their full potential. Overall, King’s Oak Primary School continues to provide a supportive and effective educational experience for its pupils.
