Brierley Primary School

Overview

Brierley Primary School is described as being “at the heart of the community,” where pupils feel “valued, happy and safe” within the “Brierley family.” Leaders maintain “high expectations for all pupils,” resulting in most students, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieving well. The school fosters a positive environment where behaviour is respectful and bullying is not tolerated.

Strengths

• The curriculum is designed so that “new learning builds, step-by-step, on what pupils and children already know,” aiding retention in most subjects.
• Staff provide effective support for children in the early years, helping them “settle into school quickly” through “interesting activities.”
• Reading is a clear priority; staff use a “carefully sequenced phonics programme” and are “quick to spot if pupils and children start to struggle.”
• Pupils develop wider interests through clubs and residential visits, while also learning to “help others by holding fundraising events for charities.”
• Governors are “knowledgeable about their role” and effectively hold leaders to account for the quality of education.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure recent curriculum changes are fully implemented in a few subjects so pupils have sufficient opportunity to “revisit and consolidate earlier learning.”
• Leaders should provide new subject leaders with the “further training, continued support and time that they need” to confidently support teachers in delivering the curriculum.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that leaders act on concerns “quickly and diligently” and work effectively with external agencies.