A Croydon primary school where pupils "do not achieve highly" has lost its "outstanding" rating and has been given a "requires improvement" rating after its recent Ofsted inspection.

Coulsdon CofE Primary School was inspected on November 8, 2023, and the report was published on June 27, 2024.

The school received a required improvement rating in three areas: quality of education, leadership and management, and early years provision.

However, they received a good rating in both behaviour and attitudes, and personal development.

In their reports, inspectors said, “pupils are proud to belong to this welcoming community” and that they show “kindness to each other, valuing different characteristics, choices and faith”.

They also praised the school for the dynamic between teachers and students, especially with the fact that pupils feel and are kept safe at the school.

However, they also noted that “over time, the curriculum has not equipped pupils with the knowledge they need to achieve well and be well-prepared for the next stage of their education”.

Ofsted acknowledged that changes have been made to improve the curriculum, “but these are recent and have not impacted fully”.

The school was last inspected in 2011, where it received an outstanding rating, and inspectors noted that there had been several changes to leadership and governance.

Inspectors said: “They recognise the curriculum has not sufficiently supported pupils to deepen their knowledge and understanding.

“Over time, pupils have not been as well prepared for the next stage of their education as they should.”

Ofsted added that this was clear from past test results, which show that “pupils do not achieve highly.”

They added that many of the changes are recent or planned so are not “embedded securely”.

Ofsted praised the school for being able to identify SEND students and for prioritising reading.

However, they noted that “across the school, there are inconsistencies in how effectively this is done”.

They criticised staff for not using vocabulary with precision and said that because of this, “pupils’ own language is less than accurate”.

Paul Garratty, headteacher of Coulsdon C of E Primary School, said: “Although we are disappointed with the judgement, we are pleased that the inspection team judged that we are good in behaviour and attitudes and personal development and that pupils are proud to belong to this welcoming community.

"I am very proud of the staff and parents at Coulsdon C of E School who have always worked hard to provide a holistic education for the wonderful children we have the pleasure to teach.

“Our community is a real strength, and we will continue to work together to enable the children to flourish in all that they do.”