Inspection Report Reveals: UK Primary Schools Foster a Deep Sense of Belonging

The St John’s Church of England Primary School located in Crowborough has been awarded a "Good" grade in its most recent Ofsted assessment.

The evaluation was carried out on March 25 and 26, 2025, examining multiple facets of the school’s operations.

The institution was deemed to excel in several areas including the standard of education, student conduct and mindset, individual growth, governance and direction, as well as initial years' support, with each category scoring an impressive "Good."

This aligns with the school's prior inspection rating from September 2019.

Pupils at St John’s feel a deep sense of belonging.

The school has a unique system where Reception children are paired with Year 6 "buddies" to help ease their transition to secondary school.

The behaviour in the school is generally kind and calm, although younger pupils sometimes need reminders during lessons.

Character development is a notable strength of the school.

Students adopt the school’s aim to “thrive fully in every aspect of life,” instilling in them qualities of toughness and persistence.

The school provides a broad spectrum of after-class activities such as instrument tuition, choir participation, and interschool sports competitions, catering to various student interests.

The review pointed out numerous aspects wherein the school performs exceptionally well.

The curriculum is extensive and well-structured, with early years' material meticulously aligned to Key Stage 1.

Geography classes are enhanced with local fieldwork excursions.

A majority of educators excel at articulating ideas succinctly and verifying comprehension.

In mathematics, staff offer skilled assistance to students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The school has made considerable progress in early reading.

Every member of staff is trained, and students engage in exercises using textbooks aligned with their phonics abilities.

Support for reading difficulties is promptly available for any students who require assistance.

The reading culture is robust, as Reception students listen to top-notch tales, while older pupils expand their literary horizons and cultivate a favorable attitude towards reading.

A new writing curriculum for older pupils has improved writing outcomes post-COVID.

The school also has a comprehensive personal, social, and health education (PSHE) programme that covers physical and mental health, safety, and diversity.

Pupils are encouraged to take community initiatives, such as donating books to charity.

Older pupils hold leadership roles and support younger peers, while governors and leaders maintain an ambitious vision while being mindful of staff workload.

Nevertheless, the assessment highlighted several areas that could be improved.

Writing in younger years needs more focus on foundational skills, such as handwriting and constructing simple sentences, as this slows fluency.

Additionally, the adaptation of the curriculum for SEND pupils is not yet consistent across all subjects.

When adaptations are less robust, these students often depend heavily on adult assistance and advance at a slower pace.

The inspectors observed that the safeguarding measures are adequate.

They discovered an inclusive and affirmative environment that places the well-being of students at the forefront.

St John’s Church of England Primary School has a roll of 206 pupils and caters to children aged 4 to 11.

The headteacher is Laura Cooper, and the chair of governors is Philip Morris, who was appointed in September 2022.

The school functions within the jurisdiction of the Church of England's Diocese of Chichester.

The inspection was conducted under the leadership of Ofsted Inspector Alice Roberts, alongside Lesley Fisher-Pink who also acted as an inspector.

The approach encompassed classroom observations, examination of pupils' work, student conversations, and safety assessments.

The opinions of parents were collected via Parent View and discussions at the school entrances.