Blackthorns Community Primary School

Overview

This ungraded inspection found that aspects of the school’s work “may not be as strong as at the time of the previous inspection,” triggering a future graded inspection. Despite this, pupils are described as “happy” and “safe,” with strong relationships and a curriculum that remains “ambitious for all.” The report highlights a need for greater consistency in teaching methods and behaviour management to ensure pupils retain essential knowledge.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe, enjoy school, and demonstrate strong values such as “determination, respect, kindness, independence and teamwork.”
• Reading is a clear priority, with teachers acting as “experts in phonics” and ensuring early identification of those needing support.
• Personal development is a “strength of the school,” with pupils learning to respect diversity and understand healthy relationships.
• The school maintains high expectations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they study the same curriculum as their peers.
• Governance is effective, with leaders who are “supportive and mindful of staff well-being and workload.”

Areas to improve

• Teachers must be “explicit as to what pupils need to learn and remember over time” to help pupils retain subject content and link prior learning.
• Staff need better training on adapting approaches to ensure pupils with SEND receive the support required to “learn and achieve well.”
• Behaviour routines must be consistently embedded so that all pupils “listen and concentrate” effectively, preventing learning delays.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”