Great Wishford Church of England Primary School, located in Salisbury, Wiltshire, underwent an inspection on May 10 and 11, 2022. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, with specific areas such as the quality of education and early years provision also marked as requiring improvement. However, the school demonstrated good performance in behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Pupils at Great Wishford are generally happy and feel safe within the school environment. They maintain positive relationships with peers and staff, exhibiting calm and well-behaved conduct. Instances of bullying are reported to be rare, and staff are proactive in addressing any issues that arise. Pupils take pride in their responsibilities, such as serving as pupil councillors and assisting younger students in developing their skills.
Despite the positive atmosphere, the curriculum's implementation across the school, including early years, is not sufficiently effective. This shortcoming affects the learning outcomes for pupils in various subjects. The school promotes its Christian values and encourages pupils to understand these values in the context of other religions. Pupils are taught about democracy and the rule of law, fostering tolerance towards differing viewpoints.
The school offers a range of extracurricular activities aimed at developing pupils' talents and interests, including sports clubs and music tuition. However, some parents have expressed a desire for a broader selection of clubs and activities. Leaders are committed to ensuring that every child receives appropriate care and achieves their potential, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities.
The curriculum is designed with structured learning steps across subjects, but its implementation has faced challenges, partly due to staffing instability. In certain subjects, assessment practices are not precise enough to effectively support pupils' learning. Consequently, this has hindered the overall effectiveness of the curriculum, particularly in early years.
The learning environments and resources available do not adequately support effective learning. For instance, the role-play area in early years is underutilized, and resources for teaching key mathematical concepts are lacking. Nevertheless, the school fosters a love of reading, with effective phonics instruction and support for pupils who struggle with reading.
Staff effectively support pupils with special educational needs, ensuring that individual plans inform teaching and classroom support. Pupils display politeness and good manners, demonstrating confidence in expressing their ideas. While they generally maintain positive attitudes towards learning, there are instances where their work lacks precision, leading to errors.
The school emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet and an active lifestyle, teaching pupils about safety, including online safety, and the dangers of drug misuse. Pupils are educated on healthy relationships and the significance of seeking help in cases of harassment. Recent improvements in communication with parents regarding their children's learning have led to increased awareness of the importance of attendance.
Leaders possess a clear understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development, collaborating effectively with the trust to identify necessary actions for improvement. The safeguarding arrangements in place are effective, with a strong culture of safeguarding evident throughout the school. Staff are well-trained to recognize signs of abuse and neglect, ensuring that concerns are addressed appropriately.
In summary, while Great Wishford Church of England Primary School has several strengths, particularly in pupil behavior and leadership, it faces challenges in curriculum implementation and resource utilization that need to be addressed to enhance overall educational effectiveness.
