Frittenden Church of England Primary School, located in Cranbrook, Kent, underwent an inspection on November 23 and 24, 2022. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, with specific areas such as the quality of education, behavior and attitudes, and leadership and management also marked as requiring improvement. However, personal development and early years provision were rated as good. The school previously received a good rating in its last inspection in June 2017.
Pupils at Frittenden Primary School enjoy a variety of activities, including music lessons where they learn to play the guitar and participate in forest school sessions that enhance their problem-solving skills. The school environment is described as safe and happy, with pupils actively engaging in school life by taking on roles such as librarians and buddies for younger students. Despite these positive aspects, the inspection highlighted a lack of urgency from school leaders in ensuring that pupils develop essential reading and mathematical skills necessary for their success. While pupils perform well in several areas of the curriculum, there are significant gaps in their phonics knowledge as they progress through the school, particularly in key stage one.
The early years provision is noted for providing a strong foundation for children, with effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Positive relationships are fostered among pupils, especially in the early years, where older students play with younger ones during breaks. However, some behavioral issues arise in the classroom and during unsupervised times, leading to unkind interactions among pupils. Although staff address instances of bullying, the overall behavior in class is inconsistent, particularly in key stage two, where some pupils struggle to engage positively.
The school has introduced a new phonics scheme aimed at helping early years children develop reading skills quickly. However, as pupils transition to key stage one, many still lack the necessary phonics knowledge to read effectively. Leaders have not acted swiftly enough to support those who fall behind in their reading. Similarly, improvements in mathematics have not been adequately addressed since the last inspection, with teachers not providing sufficient opportunities for pupils to apply their mathematical knowledge, leading to confusion and misconceptions.
While the curriculum in many subjects is well-structured, teachers do not consistently follow the outlined plans for reading and mathematics, resulting in some pupils not acquiring the knowledge and skills needed for success. Staff effectively support pupils with special educational needs across various subjects, but there is a lack of clarity regarding what pupils retain over time.
Attendance remains a concern, with not enough pupils attending regularly. Although leaders have implemented strategies to improve attendance, there is a need for more urgency in following through on these initiatives. The school offers a range of extracurricular activities, including clubs for computing, sports, and music, which are accessible to all pupils, including those with special educational needs.
The safeguarding arrangements at Frittenden Primary School are effective, with staff receiving valuable training to identify and address risks to pupils. The school promotes online safety and encourages pupils to communicate any concerns they may have. Overall, while the school has strengths in personal development and early years provision, significant improvements are needed in the quality of education, behavior management, and leadership to ensure all pupils achieve their full potential.
