Leigh CofE Primary School

Overview

This is a school where “all pupils are welcome, irrespective of their faith or background,” fostering a community where children feel happy and safe. Leaders have established “high expectations” for academic achievement and personal development, resulting in most pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieving well. However, the report notes that “some children in the early years do not achieve as well as they should” due to inconsistencies in curriculum delivery and staff expertise.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ambitious for all pupils,” with teachers designing activities that “build effectively on what pupils already know.”
• Leaders prioritise phonics, delivering a “carefully constructed phonics programme” that helps pupils become “fluent and confident readers.”
• Staff provide effective support for pupils with SEND, ensuring they “learn the same curriculum as their peers” and are fully involved in school life.
• Pupils feel well supported, with leaders dealing with bullying quickly and staff listening to concerns, helping pupils to “feel safe.”
• Governors and trustees “support and challenge leaders well,” while being “considerate of staff’s workload and well-being.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders must “finalise the curriculums” in one or two subjects where recent revisions have left teachers without sufficient guidance.
• Leaders should ensure early years staff “promote children’s communication and language,” teach children how to behave, and deliver the curriculum as intended to improve outcomes for younger children.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with staff trained to spot risks and clear procedures in place to report concerns.