The Radstone Primary School

Overview

The Radstone Primary School is described as a “caring, inclusive school” with a “warm, family ethos” where pupils feel “safe and secure.” Leaders have high aspirations, aiming for every pupil to “become the very best version of themselves” through a broad curriculum and enriching experiences. The inspection found that staff enjoy teaching and pupils enjoy learning in this well-managed academy.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “well designed” with knowledge laid out in a “logical order,” including effective adaptations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Early years provision is “clearly planned and well organised,” with children making good progress in reading through daily phonics and in mathematics using physical resources.
• Staff are “well trained” in the phonics programme, ensuring consistent approaches to decoding and closely matched reading books, fostering “positive attitudes towards reading.”
• Pupils are “friendly and polite,” showing “good manners” and listening respectfully, creating “calm places” for concentration.
• Leaders have successfully managed the school’s growth, creating an “ambitious but nurturing” environment where staff are proud to work.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, teachers do not routinely revisit prior learning, preventing pupils from “deepening their understanding” or connecting new knowledge to what they have learned before.
• Some subjects have not been fully checked for curriculum effectiveness, leading to inconsistencies in teaching; senior leaders must support subject leaders to systematically check implementation and impact.
• Reducing persistent absence for disadvantaged pupils remains a priority for leaders, despite systematic procedures for attendance.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff understanding their responsibilities, reporting concerns promptly, and governors auditing systems to ensure policies are implemented effectively.