Ireby CofE School

Overview

Ireby CofE School continues to be a good school, offering a "welcoming and close-knit school community" where pupils feel secure and happy. The inspection confirms that staff know pupils well, fostering positive relationships and high attendance, while an ambitious curriculum overhaul has largely resulted in pupils achieving well.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy attending school, with "very positive" relationships between peers and staff contributing to a harmonious learning environment.
• The curriculum is well established in most subjects, with teachers effectively building on prior knowledge so pupils demonstrate "clear understanding."
• Reading is a key priority; the vast majority of pupils become "confident and fluent readers by the end of Year 2" through consistent phonics teaching.
• Staff seamlessly adapt teaching for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they access the same curriculum and achieve well.
• Governors provide effective support and challenge, while staff feel valued and appreciate measures taken to consider their workload and well-being.

Areas to improve

• In a minority of subjects, the new curriculum is not yet fully embedded, leaving pupils with "gaps in their knowledge" and less secure learning.
• The implementation of the PSHE curriculum has not had the intended impact, as pupils lack an "in-depth understanding of diversity and different cultures."

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."