Ridgmont Lower School

Overview

Ridgmont Lower School is a small, caring institution where pupils are at the heart of the community. The report describes a school where staff understand individual learning needs, fostering resilience and high attendance. Leaders have successfully addressed previous inspection priorities, resulting in a harmonious environment where pupils feel safe, valued, and eager to learn.

Strengths

• Attendance and behaviour are rated at a "Strong standard," with pupils showing "remarkable independence" and staff guiding them with "kindness" and consistency.
• Safeguarding standards are met, creating an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed, ensuring pupils "feel safe."
• Staff effectively support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, working closely with parents to provide tailored help that enables these pupils to "achieve well."
• The curriculum is "broad and well sequenced," with a sharp focus on reading that helps pupils develop skills "quickly and confidently."
• Pupils demonstrate "compassion and respect for others," having been taught to "recognise and value the feelings of others."

Areas to improve

• Leaders should strengthen the consistency of teaching across the curriculum to ensure all subjects are taught equally well.
• Staff need to support pupils in applying foundational writing knowledge across subjects beyond English, as some pupils’ use of grammar, such as capital letters, is "inconsistent."

Safeguarding

The report states that "safeguarding standards are met," noting that leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.