Ofsted

Our Most Recent Graded Inspection – June 2022

Honilands Primary School was inspected by Ofsted on 7 and 8 June 2022. The school was judged Good overall and Good in every area:

• Quality of education – Good

• Behaviour and attitudes – Good

• Personal development – Good

• Leadership and management – Good

• Early years provision – Good

This represented significant improvement from the school's previous inspection and reflected the hard work and commitment of pupils, staff, governors and the wider Honilands community.

Inspectors recognised many of the qualities that remain important to Honilands today. They found an inclusive and happy school where pupils felt safe and trusted adults to support them. Strong relationships were identified as central to the school's success, with staff knowing pupils well and providing effective support, including for pupils with SEND.

The inspection also recognised the calm and purposeful learning environment, positive behaviour and high expectations across the school.

Reading was identified as a clear priority. Inspectors found that staff were well trained in the school's phonics programme, that teaching was consistent and that pupils who were at risk of falling behind received additional support quickly.

Inspectors also recognised that the curriculum was logically planned and sequenced, with leaders identifying the important knowledge pupils should learn. Pupils benefited from opportunities to take responsibility, contribute to their community and develop their understanding of equality, different faiths, wellbeing and online safety.

Leadership was identified as a strength, and safeguarding arrangements were judged to be effective.

What did Ofsted ask us to improve?

The inspection identified one main area for further development: ensuring that pupils consistently remember important knowledge across all subjects.

Since the inspection, we have continued to strengthen curriculum sequencing, retrieval and opportunities for pupils to revisit and connect previous learning. Our aim is for children to build secure knowledge over time so that they know more, remember more and are able to do more.

Academy conversion and our current Ofsted record

Honilands Primary School joined Children First Academy Trust on 1 September 2025 and became an academy.

As part of this conversion, the academy received a new Unique Reference Number (URN). Ofsted therefore holds a new record for Honilands Primary School as an academy, while the June 2022 graded inspection remains attached to the predecessor school.

The current academy has not yet received a graded Ofsted inspection. The June 2022 report therefore remains an important record of the quality of education and care provided at Honilands prior to conversion, while our work since joining Children First Academy Trust continues to build on those strengths.

We remain ambitious for every child and committed to providing high-quality teaching, a strong curriculum, excellent pastoral care and an inclusive, welcoming school community.