Parents, staff and pupils agree that Southtown is a friendly school. Pupils enjoy coming to school. One parent summarised comments sent to the inspection team, saying, ‘All staff are extremely approachable and caring towards the children. There is also very good communication with parents.’ Pupils like the adults who work with them and they enjoy learning. Pupils are very positive about the school and are proud of their achievements. They say the teachers give them loads of knowledge and ‘my brain gets bigger every day’. Pupils talk about their learning needs and how the school has given them confidence to do work and make good friends. There are lots of after-school clubs and most pupils attend one or more of these during the year. Pupils are safe and well cared for. Pupils at Southtown Primary are kind to each other. They told inspectors that there is very little unkindness, saying: ‘Most of the time they’ll stop and make up and be friends again because you notice what you’ve done and apologise.’ If there is any bullying teachers sort it out straight away. Pupils’ behaviour in class and around the school is good. Staff use the school’s behaviour plan well and have high expectations of pupils. There are very few times when pupils do not listen to their teachers. On occasion, if pupils do not listen well it is typically because they do not understand what they are learning about. This is because the planning and teaching of the curriculum is not helping pupils to learn as well as they should.