Leedon Lower School

Overview

The report states that the school "requires significant improvement" because it is "performing significantly less well than it might in all the circumstances reasonably be expected to perform." While new leaders are working at pace to address issues, the inspection found that pupils "do not achieve as well as they should" and have "major gaps" in core knowledge.

Strengths

• Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
• Leaders have improved attendance and behaviour, with a "reduction in the number of pupils who are persistently absent."
• The school offers strong "pastoral care" and a "nurturing approach," including therapeutic programmes that improve pupil wellbeing.
• Pupils are described as "happy, safe, confident and curious," particularly in the early years, and trust staff to help them.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must "significantly raise the expectations" for all pupils to close gaps in reading, writing, and mathematics quickly.
• Teachers need to use assessment to inform teaching and adapt learning, as current checks are "not robust" and expectations are "low."
• Governors need to "tighten their strategic oversight" and strengthen how they hold leaders to account for educational standards.

Safeguarding

The report confirms that safeguarding standards are met, noting that leaders have established an open culture where "pupils are made safer and feel safe."