Ofsted conducted a short inspection of South Ascot Village Primary School on 11 July 2019, following its previous judgment of good in November 2015. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain its good status. The leadership team, led by Miss Kate Rimell, has a clear understanding of the school's performance, supported by a rigorous monitoring cycle that includes observations of teaching, scrutiny of pupils' work, and discussions about their progress. This has fostered a strong sense of community and high expectations among staff and pupils alike.
Pupils at South Ascot Village Primary School enjoy their learning experiences, which are enriched by practical activities across various subjects. The curriculum is designed to ignite curiosity, as evidenced by a memorable archaeological dig project undertaken by Year 4 pupils in collaboration with experts from Royal Holloway, University of London. Parents have expressed high levels of satisfaction with the school, highlighting the support provided to families, particularly those facing challenges. They appreciate the range of activities available, including swimming in the school's pool, and many would recommend the school to others.
The governing body plays an active role in the school's strategic development, closely monitoring the effectiveness of improvement strategies and ensuring that all pupils, including disadvantaged students, achieve well. The governors engage with the school community, visiting classrooms and reviewing pupils' work to verify reported improvements. At the previous inspection, the school was advised to enhance the transition from early years to key stage 1, and the current staff have successfully implemented measures to prepare children for this transition.
The curriculum has been enriched to provide meaningful connections between subjects, resulting in good achievement across the board. While writing skills have improved, there remains a need for further development in this area. Senior leaders recognize the importance of increasing the challenge in writing tasks and enhancing the quality of questioning by staff to deepen pupils' understanding.
Safeguarding practices at the school are robust, with regular updates to policies and thorough background checks for staff. Training ensures that all staff members are well-informed about safeguarding procedures, contributing to a strong culture of safety. Pupils feel secure and are provided with guidance on various aspects of safety, including online safety. Instances of bullying are reported to be minimal, with any issues addressed promptly.
The inspection findings indicate that while there have been improvements in writing, there is still room for growth, particularly in challenging pupils' thinking. The school has successfully created an engaging curriculum that prepares pupils for future learning. Disadvantaged pupils receive targeted support, and attendance has improved due to effective strategies implemented by the leadership team. However, some parents continue to take term-time holidays, affecting attendance rates for a minority of pupils.
Moving forward, the school leadership and governing body are encouraged to ensure that teaching in writing challenges all pupils appropriately and that staff develop their questioning techniques to enhance pupils' understanding. Overall, the inspection highlighted the school's commitment to continuous improvement and the positive impact of its initiatives on pupil outcomes.
