Thirsk Community Primary School

Overview

Thirsk Community Primary School provides a welcoming environment where pupils behave well and feel safe, with strong early years provision and effective support for those with special educational needs. However, the report states that "pupils do not achieve as well as they should," with attainment in reading, writing, and mathematics remaining significantly below national averages over recent years. Leaders are taking action to improve consistency in teaching, particularly in writing, but the report notes that "there is still significant work to do to ensure pupils fully benefit from this."

Strengths

• Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.
• The early years curriculum is "well considered," helping children build essential knowledge and secure phonics skills.
• Pupils demonstrate "positive attitudes to learning" in a "calm, orderly and respectful environment" where bullying is rare.
• Inclusion is effective, with "well‑ targeted support" ensuring disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND access the same curriculum.
• Attendance has improved to slightly above national averages through purposeful collaboration with families and external agencies.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure pupils develop consistent knowledge in handwriting, spelling, and punctuation to produce high-quality written work.
• Governors need to sharpen their oversight of improvement actions to ensure weaknesses are promptly addressed.
• Strategies must continue to reduce persistent absence for the small proportion of pupils who remain irregularly attending.

Safeguarding

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