West Thornton Primary School, located in Croydon, has recently undergone its first inspection since joining the Inspire Partnership Academy Trust in April 2020. The inspection, conducted on October 1 and 2, 2024, resulted in commendable ratings across various aspects of the school's performance. The quality of education was rated as good, while behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision were all rated as outstanding. The school operates across two sites, catering for a larger-than-average student population of 918 pupils aged four to eleven.
The leadership team, comprising co-headteachers Donna Callaghan and Jonathan Owen, is dedicated to fostering an environment where every pupil can thrive. The school emphasizes the importance of community, self-identity, and the curriculum, which collectively contribute to building pupils' confidence and skills. The school's values—kindness, respect, resilience, responsibility, collaboration, and excellence—are integral to its approach, promoting positive behaviour and effective self-regulation from a young age. This focus on behaviour ensures that lessons are productive and centered on learning.
The curriculum at West Thornton is broad and ambitious, with meticulous sequencing that supports all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. The school has high expectations for its students, and the quality of work produced across subjects reflects this commitment. Pupils are well-prepared for the next stages of their education, thanks to the school's rigorous academic standards and supportive learning environment.
Extracurricular activities play a significant role in the school experience, with a variety of clubs available, including football, crochet, dance, drawing, cooking, and photography. Leadership opportunities for pupils, such as library and playground monitors, encourage them to engage actively in their school community.
The school has demonstrated a strong commitment to continuous improvement. Leaders quickly identified areas for enhancement upon joining the trust and have worked diligently to implement changes. The focus on developing language and vocabulary in the early years is particularly noteworthy, as it lays a solid foundation for future learning. Staff are well-trained in delivering the phonics scheme, ensuring that reading is prioritized and that pupils become fluent readers as swiftly as possible.
While the school excels in many areas, there are a few subjects where the curriculum refinement is still in progress. This means that the depth of understanding in these subjects may not yet match that of more developed areas. The school is aware of this and is committed to ensuring that the ambitious curriculum is fully embedded across all subjects.
Behaviour throughout the school is described as calm and harmonious, with pupils demonstrating independence and enthusiasm for their learning. Attendance rates are generally good, and effective support is in place for those needing improvement.
The provision for personal development is exceptional, with pupils engaging in lessons that promote social, health, and economic understanding. The curriculum includes themes of identity, diversity, and social justice, preparing pupils for life in modern Britain. Staff express high levels of satisfaction with leadership's consideration of their workload, feeling valued and proud of the school's progress.
Overall, West Thornton Primary School has established itself as a thriving educational institution, committed to the success and well-being of its pupils. The positive outcomes from the inspection reflect the hard work and dedication of the entire school community.
