Shute Community Primary School, located in Axminster, Devon, underwent an inspection on February 7 and 8, 2023. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, with specific areas such as the quality of education and leadership and management also receiving a similar rating. However, the school demonstrated good performance in behavior and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision.
Pupils at Shute Community Primary School are generally happy and enjoy their time at school. From an early age, children learn essential social skills such as sharing and taking turns, which helps them form friendships quickly. The school fosters a positive environment where older pupils take pride in mentoring younger students, promoting a sense of community. Parents appreciate the kindness and care shown by the staff, and pupils feel confident that they can seek help for any concerns, including issues related to bullying, which is reported to be infrequent.
The school offers a variety of enrichment activities, including clubs and sports, which pupils actively participate in. They particularly enjoy the games club organized by the school council and value hands-on experiences from educational visits. These activities contribute to the development of important life skills such as teamwork, determination, and resilience.
Despite these strengths, the wider curriculum for pupils in Years 1 to 6 is not well organized. School leaders have not clearly identified the essential knowledge and vocabulary that pupils need to retain, leading to gaps in their understanding. Teachers are not effectively addressing these gaps, which affects the learning of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.
Leaders and governors have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and areas for improvement. Although a new curriculum has been implemented, there is still significant work to be done to ensure that staff consistently follow policies and procedures. The development of subject leaders is still in its early stages, which has resulted in a lack of clarity regarding the essential knowledge that should be taught in the wider curriculum. Consequently, pupils are not able to build on their prior learning effectively.
Teachers do regularly assess pupils' understanding of the knowledge and skills taught, but the assessment information is not utilized effectively to adapt learning activities. This has resulted in some pupils lacking secure knowledge in subjects like mathematics, as they are not adequately prepared before moving on to new concepts.
In the early years, a well-structured phonics program is in place, enabling children to develop their reading skills effectively. Staff are attentive to the needs of pupils, providing additional support when necessary. The early years curriculum meets the needs of children with special educational needs well.
The introduction of 'Golden Rules' has improved behavior management within the school, leading to positive relationships between staff and pupils. Staff encourage healthy habits and ensure that pupils understand the importance of well-being. The school has effective safeguarding arrangements, with staff trained to recognize and report concerns regarding pupil welfare.
To improve, the school must identify the essential knowledge that pupils need to learn across the foundation subjects. Additionally, assessment practices need to be enhanced to better identify and address gaps in knowledge. Consistency in following school policies and procedures, particularly regarding safeguarding records, is also necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the school's practices. Overall, while Shute Community Primary School has several strengths, focused efforts are required to address the areas needing improvement.
