Holy Island Church of England Primary School

Overview

Holy Island Church of England First School, inspected in November 2023, is judged ‘Good’ overall, with ‘Outstanding’ personal development. The report highlights a “remarkable sense of care and community” where pupils are “polite and kind” and thrive in a “family atmosphere.” The school operates in a federation with Lowick Church of England First School, sharing a vision of “journeying together” to provide a rich curriculum and extensive extra-curricular opportunities.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “detailed knowledge across a range of subjects” and are well-prepared for their next educational stage.
• Personal development is exceptional, with pupils taught the importance of respect and benefiting from an “incredible extra-curricular offer.”
• Staff effectively support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, who “achieve well and feel successful.”
• Attendance has improved significantly due to effective staff actions and pupils’ enjoyment of school life.
• The governing body is “very well informed” and actively challenges leaders to ensure strategic oversight.

Areas to improve

• Early years resources are not always “precisely matched to the curriculum,” leading to some younger children being less purposeful in independent learning.
• Staff occasionally lack consistency in demonstrating tasks in English and mathematics, meaning some pupils do not build “automaticity” in skills like blending or calculating.

Safeguarding

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