Peak Forest Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Overview

This ungraded inspection confirms that Peak Forest Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school is described as a “happy and friendly place to learn” with a “warm and inclusive ethos,” where pupils feel “happy and safe.” Leaders demonstrate a “precise and accurate understanding” of the school’s strengths, supporting a positive staff morale and a successful vision for pupils to be “happy, healthy and hungry to learn.”

Strengths

• The school prioritises reading, using a “rich and stimulating range of texts” that reflect pupils’ rural identity while preparing them for wider societal diversity.
• Pupils benefit from an “extensive programme of personal development and enrichment,” including visits to the Peak District and “together days” with federation schools.
• Staff possess “strong subject knowledge” and explain new ideas clearly, with most pupils responding well to raised curriculum expectations.
• The school identifies the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well, ensuring they are “mostly well supported in the classroom.”
• A “strong and vigilant culture” promotes pupils’ physical and mental well-being, including safety online and outdoors.

Areas to improve

• Staff do not consistently check that pupils’ understanding of knowledge and skills is secure before moving on, leading to gaps in learning and vocabulary.
• Some pupils are not taught how to hold and use a pen well enough, resulting in inaccurate transcription and untidy work.

Safeguarding

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