Hexham First School

Overview

Hexham First School continues to be a good school where pupils are happy and feel safe. Leaders maintain high expectations for behaviour and achievement, with a curriculum that is increasingly tailored to pupils’ local context. The school provides an inclusive environment where all pupils, including those with special educational needs, achieve well.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy learning in a friendly environment with "high expectations for every pupil" and rare incidents of bullying.
• Teaching of reading and phonics is consistent and effective, with staff providing targeted support for those who have fallen behind.
• The mathematics curriculum is "well-designed and well-sequenced," helping pupils build knowledge effectively from Nursery to Year 4.
• Geography lessons are engaging and relevant, linking key knowledge to the local area, such as the River Tyne.
• Staff carefully plan to meet the needs of all pupils, creating an inclusive school with "high ambition" for those with special educational needs.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must implement revisions to the curriculum intent in remaining foundation subjects where updates are incomplete.
• New subject leaders require appropriate developmental opportunities to fully develop their monitoring skills, with governors reviewing the impact of this support.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff promptly identifying vulnerable pupils and working well with external agencies to secure help.