Bitterne Park Primary & Nursery School - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud to attend Bitterne Park Primary School.

They enjoy learning and achieve highly because of the very ambitious curriculum which is expertly taught. Staff form strong relationships with pupils. Pupils know that if they have any concerns, there is always an adult who will help.

This helps them to feel safe.

Pupils' behaviour is excellent. They learn how to communicate well and how to follow clear and consistent routines, right from when they join in the early years.

Pupils are polite and friendly, and increasingly independent. Pupils enjoy helping each other and making sure that everyone is included. 'Sanctuary ambassadors' welcome newco...mers to the school, because they want everyone to feel happy and safe.

Pupils strive eagerly to embody the school's vision for children to be 'architects of a better world'. They think carefully about how they can make a real and meaningful difference in their school, community and the wider world. Pupils passionately take on local causes, such as campaigning to improve the quality of the water in the local river.

Pupils benefit from participating in a range of well-considered clubs, trips and community activities. Singing club is especially popular, as are days when the whole school and their families join together for a day of gardening.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has established a highly ambitious, broad curriculum.

The school's clear vision underpins the curriculum. Themes of sanctuary and ecology thread through pupils' learning seamlessly. Consequently, pupils are enthused by what they learn.

They are eager to make a real difference in society and to become 'architects of a better world'.

The curriculum is structured extremely carefully to make sure that pupils build their knowledge securely from when they start in the early years until they leave at the end of Year 6. As a result, pupils achieve exceptionally well across subjects, as reflected in published outcomes in 2024.

A sharp focus on communication, language and numeracy ensures that children in the early years develop very strong foundations for future learning. In particular, the school's approach to learning phonics is superb. Children quickly learn to read fluently and are very well prepared for key stage 1.

Any pupil that needs additional support with reading receives targeted extra help.

Teaching is of high quality. Teachers are exceptionally well trained in the curriculum and how to teach it.

This includes several teachers who are at the start of their careers. Teaching is consistent across the school. This helps pupils' learning develop strongly over time.

Teachers know precisely what individual pupils have previously learned and what they need to learn next. Well-embedded processes ensure that the school quickly identifies the needs of vulnerable pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff expertly adapt learning to meet these pupils' needs.

Staff are rightly proud to work at the school.

The school's vision for developing pupils' character is exceptional. The school makes sure that pupils, including the most disadvantaged, have the opportunity to participate in society in a meaningful way.

The uptake of extra-curricular activities is high, including trips to the theatre and opera and whole-school shows. Visits from local authors are well received. Opportunities for pupils to take on leadership responsibilities are extensive and of high quality.

Pupils are proud of having roles such as eco-warriors and school councillors. Through all this, pupils hone their social skills and develop a very strong sense of character. They actively make a significant difference to the school and local community.

Leaders and staff have a strong sense of moral purpose. The school is passionate about working in partnership with its community. There are many ways for parents and carers to get involved in school life, including by visiting to see what pupils are learning.

The school sensitively looks out for the needs of the most vulnerable pupils, including helping families to access additional help and support when they need it. In particular, the school helps to address any barriers that might prevent any pupils from coming to school more frequently in a thoughtful and caring way. Consequently, pupils are eager to come to school and enjoy everything that it has to offer.

Pupils attend regularly and very few are persistently absent.

The school is extremely well led. Executive leaders who work across the federation are highly skilled.

They make sure that staff are very well supported in all aspects of their work. Those responsible for governance are adept at challenging leaders to make sure that the school provides a high-quality education for all.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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