Ofsted inspectors find Highwood Primary School 'good'

Highwood Primary School in Mead Way, Bushey, was inspected over two days in June but had to wait over the summer holidays before being given the second highest possible grade today (September 21).

Inspectors found pupils to be “happy at Highwood Primary”, adding that they enjoy their learning and feel safe.

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They said: “The curriculum is broad and interesting.

“Leaders are ambitious and have high expectations for pupils. This helps pupils to enjoy school.”

Highwood Primary School (Image: Google Street View)

Every category inspected was found at least ‘good’ but early years support drew particular praise for its “highly ambitious curriculum” which “enables all children to achieve well” and was therefore rated ‘outstanding’.

“Children show well-developed learning behaviours, such as respect for others, as they work and play together,” the report said, adding that they “leave the early years very well prepared for the next stage of learning”.

Two areas for improvement were identified. Ofsted wants the school’s leaders to more clearly define the key knowledge they want pupils to learn. It also told the school to more consistently set out expectations for behaviour.

Inspectors heaped praise on the early years provision. (Image: PA)

Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and safeguarding arrangements were also praised. Leaders and staff are apparently “well trained” and “skilful” in several areas including safeguarding and SEND support and subject leaders are “knowledgeable”.

Highwood Primary School has 439 students aged three to 11 on its roll. Its last full inspection also found it to be ‘good’ overall, but it did not have any ‘outstanding’ categories at that inspection as it does now.