Bartons Primary School, located on Lethaby Road in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, underwent an inspection from December 4 to December 5, 2019. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as good, marking a significant improvement from the previous inspection in October 2017, when it was deemed to require improvement. The school serves pupils aged five to eleven and has a total enrollment of 219 students.
Pupils at Bartons Primary School express enjoyment in attending school and being part of what they refer to as Team Bartons. The school promotes values such as independence, respect, communication, happiness, responsibility, and creativity, which are well understood and demonstrated by the students in various aspects of school life. This positive environment fosters kindness among pupils, who collaborate effectively and show resilience in their learning, even when faced with challenging tasks.
The staff at Bartons Primary School maintain high expectations for their students, encouraging them to strive for their best. School leaders have implemented effective teaching strategies that ensure pupils acquire the necessary skills to prepare them for secondary education. Classroom behavior is commendable, with students actively engaged in lessons that they find enjoyable and stimulating. The school prioritizes the safety and well-being of its pupils, who feel welcomed and included, with reports of bullying being rare. Students are confident that any issues would be addressed promptly by the staff.
The leadership team is ambitious for the pupils and challenges them to excel academically. They aim to ensure that every child retains and recalls essential knowledge across all subjects of the national curriculum. The revised curriculum planning has led to notable improvements since the last inspection, although some subjects are further developed than others. Teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge and are committed to enhancing their teaching practices. They accurately assess students' understanding in foundational subjects like English and mathematics, allowing pupils to build on solid learning foundations.
Recent enhancements in phonics instruction have positively impacted pupils' reading abilities. Students across the school enjoy reading, and parents appreciate the school's approach to fostering a love for literature. The emphasis on reading has had a beneficial effect on various areas of learning. Writing skills among pupils are also improving, with students using engaging vocabulary and phrases inspired by the stories they read. In mathematics, pupils show retention of learned concepts and develop their understanding over time, thanks to well-structured curriculum planning.
Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities receive excellent support and achieve well across all key stages. The leadership team possesses a thorough understanding of these students and their families, ensuring that lessons are adapted as needed to facilitate inclusive learning. Students express enthusiasm for the diverse topics they study, and teachers select engaging books to stimulate interest. For instance, Year 6 pupils enthusiastically discussed a survival-themed book, demonstrating their engagement with the curriculum.
In early years, children receive a strong start to their educational journey, learning essential values such as respect, determination, and resilience. Observations revealed children collaborating on projects, such as decorating a shared postbox and transforming a large box into a sleigh, with staff providing skillful support to enhance their learning experiences.
The school's safeguarding measures are effective, with pupils feeling secure and knowing whom to approach if they have concerns. Leaders conduct necessary checks, and staff are well-trained to identify and report any issues. The governing body is also well-versed in safeguarding practices, ensuring a robust culture of safety throughout the school.
Despite the overall positive assessment, the school recognizes areas for improvement. In some subjects, the curriculum planning is not as robust, leading to gaps in pupils' retention of key learning components. Leaders are aware of these challenges and are actively working to enhance curriculum planning across all subjects. Additionally, assessments in foundation subjects require further development to ensure that pupils retain more of their learning.
Overall, Bartons Primary School has made significant strides since its last inspection, creating a positive and effective learning environment for its pupils. The commitment of the staff and leadership team to continuous improvement is evident, and the school is well-positioned to build on its successes in the future.
