Stoke Park Primary School, located in Lockleaze, Bristol, has recently undergone an inspection on October 3 and 4, 2023, and has been rated as good in overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The headteacher, Alison Lambert, leads the school, which is part of the Cathedral Schools Trust, overseen by CEO Neil Blundell and a board of trustees chaired by David Eastwood.
Pupils at Stoke Park Primary School enjoy their time at school, actively engaging with the school’s values of kindness, pride, and striving for success. The positive relationships between staff and pupils foster a respectful and supportive environment. Adults have high expectations for pupil behaviour, which is met with a positive response from the students. The school emphasizes routines and expectations, particularly in the early years, where children are guided to follow daily structures. The inclusive atmosphere allows pupils of all ages to play together harmoniously during breaks, enjoying various activities such as basketball and climbing.
The school offers an enriching curriculum that includes the ‘enrichment passport,’ which provides opportunities for community support, musical instrument learning, and personal safety education. Parents and carers express high satisfaction with the support and care provided by the school, particularly appreciating the enrichment activities and communication from staff.
Stoke Park Primary School has designed a broad and ambitious curriculum that aims to build knowledge effectively. In mathematics, teachers regularly assess pupils’ understanding to ensure retention of the curriculum. The reading program supports early readers and older pupils in developing comprehension skills appropriate for their age. Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are successfully integrated into the curriculum alongside their peers, resulting in improved educational quality compared to previous outcomes.
Teachers encourage pupils to revisit prior learning before introducing new concepts, enhancing retention. However, some subjects still require full curriculum embedding, leading to challenges in knowledge recall. For instance, while pupils can identify rock types in science, they struggle with concepts related to fair testing and the significance of variables.
From the start in Nursery, there is a strong emphasis on language and communication development. Children enjoy storytelling, which enriches their vocabulary. The school ensures staff are well-equipped to teach reading, with early identification of pupils at risk of falling behind, providing necessary support to help them catch up. Older pupils engage with a diverse range of texts, demonstrating accurate vocabulary in discussions.
The behaviour policy is consistently applied by all staff, creating a fair and orderly environment. Pupils understand the expectations and respond positively, contributing to a calm school atmosphere. The personal development curriculum is well-structured, enhancing pupils’ leadership skills and promoting responsible citizenship. Pupils learn about inclusion and safety, including cyberbullying awareness.
Staff express appreciation for the support provided by the school and take pride in being part of the team. They value collaboration with colleagues across the trust, which offers a balanced approach to challenge and support.
The school’s safeguarding arrangements are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. However, there are areas for improvement, particularly in fully embedding the curriculum across all subjects and raising expectations for the presentation of pupils’ work to reflect their learning and the ambitious curriculum. The trust is encouraged to ensure that all subjects support knowledge retention and that high standards are maintained in pupils’ work presentation.
