Dilhorne Endowed CofE Primary School

Overview

Dilhorne Endowed CofE Primary School is described as a small, friendly environment where pupils are “happy, confident and well cared for.” The report highlights a strong focus on pupil wellbeing, with leaders ensuring children feel “valued, cared for and connected to their community.” Academic achievement is generally above national averages, supported by a broad curriculum and effective support for pupils with special educational needs.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve well, with recent outcomes showing performance “above the national average” in reading, writing, and mathematics.
• Behaviour is “positive” and bullying is “rare,” fostered by “trusting relationships between staff and pupils.”
• The school’s rural setting, including a farm and forest school, provides unique spaces that “nurture resilience and wellbeing.”
• Leaders identify barriers to learning quickly, ensuring disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs access the full curriculum effectively.
• Parents are “highly positive” about the school, praising the “enthusiasm, care and commitment of staff.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure that “the most effective teaching practice is shared and applied consistently across the school.”
• Leaders should continue work to “raise attendance and reduce persistent absence.”
• Leaders should ensure interactions between staff and children “consistently help children to develop their speaking skills and vocabulary,” addressing variability in early years.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility” and concerns are actively managed.