Ofsted conducted a subject inspection of East Haddon Church of England Primary School on 11 March 2020, focusing on geography. The inspection confirmed that the school maintains its outstanding overall effectiveness rating from the last section 5 inspection. The purpose of this inspection was to evaluate the quality of education in specific subjects at outstanding primary schools, with geography being the primary focus.
The headteacher, Mrs. Truslove, has established a clear vision for the teaching of geography, which is based on a reflective evaluation of the school's strengths and areas for development. Geography is primarily taught through a project-based approach, especially in the early years and key stage 1. The school has recently begun to implement a new geography curriculum aligned with national standards, and staff appreciate the collaborative efforts to achieve an ambitious curriculum. Although still in the early stages, the school has formed links with other primary and secondary schools to enhance local expertise in geography.
The school is working to ensure comprehensive coverage of the national curriculum in geography. The curriculum in key stage 1 builds on early years learning, while key stage 2 generally builds on key stage 1. However, there are gaps in the full implementation of the national curriculum, particularly in developing place knowledge in key stages 1 and 2. Project themes do not consistently allow pupils to compare regions within the UK or with contrasting countries, which limits their understanding of geographical differences. For instance, the study of the Alps did not provide sufficient detail for pupils to make meaningful comparisons.
Teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge and engage pupils through effective questioning and resource use. They adapt their teaching for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, but many pupils in key stages 1 and 2 struggle to recall basic geographical facts, such as the four countries of the UK and their capitals. In key stage 2, pupils showed better recall of European and global countries compared to the UK.
Pupils in the early years and Year 1 show enthusiasm for learning about their environment. High expectations and careful planning enable all pupils in mixed-age classes to access the curriculum effectively. Local fieldwork experiences, such as those at Holdenby, have been integrated into learning, and pupils have enjoyed activities like the dinosaur trail. They also develop observational skills through gardening projects, linking seasonal changes to plant growth.
In key stages 1 and 2, some geography planning is more advanced than others. In key stage 2, project themes and cross-curricular links have been thoughtfully considered, allowing pupils to apply their geographical knowledge to historical contexts, such as ancient Greece. However, in other areas, the sequencing of geographical knowledge is less clear, and some topics, like volcanoes and earthquakes, are not adequately covered, hindering pupils' understanding of physical geography.
The headteacher is committed to enhancing geography provision as the curriculum evolves, including introducing new fieldwork approaches in key stage 2. Pupils express a strong desire to learn more about the world, as evidenced by their independent research on various themes and their willingness to support causes related to geographical disasters. These initiatives highlight the positive impact of geography on pupils' learning beyond the national curriculum. The school is small, with 88 pupils enrolled, and has a low proportion of disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs. The inspection findings will be shared with relevant stakeholders and published on the Ofsted website.
