Leyburn Primary School

Overview

Leyburn Primary School is rated as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories. The report describes a school where “pupils thrive” and feel safe, supported by staff who hold “high expectations” for all learners, including those with special educational needs. Leaders prioritise both academic success and mental well-being, fostering a positive environment where pupils are enthusiastic and respectful.

Strengths

• Reading is taught through a “well-sequenced, highly structured phonics programme,” helping pupils become fluent readers who “love reading.”
• The curriculum in mathematics is “well planned and sequenced,” allowing pupils to build knowledge in small steps and confidently tackle problem-solving.
• Staff provide effective therapeutic support for pupils with emotional needs, helping them “increase their confidence” and manage anxieties.
• Pupils take on significant leadership roles, such as organising outdoor play, and demonstrate “polite, courteous and respectful” behaviour.
• Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” with staff trained to identify risks and act swiftly to protect pupils.

Areas to improve

• In foundation subjects like history, there are fewer opportunities to recap prior learning, leading to some pupils having “misconceptions” and struggling to remember content accurately.
• The curriculum does not cover cultural diversity in sufficient depth, meaning pupils lack rich opportunities to understand the “multicultural nature of modern Britain.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that staff know pupils well, receive regular training, and follow procedures to ensure pupils’ well-being and safety are priorities.