Crich Carr CofE Primary School, located in Whatstandwell, Matlock, Derbyshire, has undergone an ungraded inspection on 21 March 2023. The overall judgement remains good, although evidence suggests that a graded inspection might yield a lower grade if conducted now. The inspection team recommends that the next evaluation should be a graded inspection. The school has experienced significant changes in leadership and staffing, with leaders striving to build a cohesive team focused on ensuring that all pupils achieve well.
Pupils express pride in their school and enjoy their learning experiences. The school offers a variety of clubs and activities, including opportunities to learn musical instruments. Staff members are familiar with the pupils and their families, fostering positive relationships. Parents generally hold a favorable view of the school, with many praising its contributions to their children's development. The atmosphere is characterized by respect and trust between adults and pupils, with most students adhering to school rules and valuing the rewards for positive behavior. Pupils feel safe and report that bullying is infrequent.
However, there are areas for improvement. In certain subjects, leaders have not adequately defined the knowledge pupils are expected to learn and the timing of this learning. While the school has developed a broad and ambitious curriculum, the implementation varies across subjects. Mathematics and geography are well-structured, with clear sequencing of learning, while subjects like computing lack sufficient detail in planning and sequencing.
The mathematics curriculum is particularly strong, outlining learning objectives from early years onward and demonstrating how knowledge builds over time. The subject leader actively checks pupils' understanding and provides effective support to staff. Nonetheless, some teachers struggle to explain new concepts clearly, hindering pupils' ability to grasp and complete tasks successfully. Additionally, assessment practices are not always precise, making it difficult for teachers to gauge pupils' learning progress and identify areas needing extra support.
The geography curriculum is organized in a three-year cycle, with clear content and learning sequences. Teachers effectively explain new concepts and regularly assess pupils' understanding. However, pupils often struggle to recall previous learning from other topics, which affects their ability to build knowledge over time.
The school has recently revamped its approach to early reading and phonics, implementing a consistent teaching strategy that begins in the early years. Staff receive appropriate training and use assessments to tailor their teaching to meet pupils' needs. Pupils read books that align with their learning, and there is encouragement for frequent reading at home and school. While the range of available books has improved, older and more confident readers desire a broader selection.
The early years environment is well-organized, promoting language development and vocabulary acquisition through storytelling and meaningful activities. Staff are adept at identifying pupils with special educational needs and provide appropriate support, often collaborating with external organizations when necessary.
The school excels in supporting pupils' wider development, offering various off-site visits and opportunities for community engagement. Pupils learn about diverse cultures and faiths, participate in charitable activities, and develop an understanding of democracy and the rule of law, preparing them well for future educational steps.
Safeguarding measures are effective, with a strong emphasis on pupil safety. Leaders ensure staff are well-trained in safeguarding procedures, and there are clear systems for addressing concerns. The curriculum includes lessons on identifying and responding to risks, further enhancing pupils' safety awareness.
While the school has made strides in curriculum planning, the implementation is still in its early stages. Leaders need to prioritize monitoring and evaluating the impact of these plans to ensure all pupils learn effectively.
