Upperby Primary School

Overview

Upperby Primary School is judged as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, having ‘improved considerably since the last inspection’. Leaders have revised the curriculum to be ‘organised in a logical way’, resulting in pupils developing an ‘increasingly secure body of subject knowledge’. The school fosters a positive environment where pupils are ‘happy’, ‘polite’, and ‘keen to learn’.

Strengths

• The curriculum is ‘well-designed and well-taught’, with teachers demonstrating ‘good subject knowledge’ and effectively supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Reading is ‘prioritised throughout the school’, with staff teaching phonics ‘consistently well’ and encouraging pupils to ‘read for pleasure’.
• Pupils benefit from ‘cultural and adventurous activities’ and opportunities to develop skills beyond the academic curriculum, such as through a ‘careers fair’ and sports week.
• Staff deal with bullying ‘effectively’, and pupils ‘know right from wrong’, contributing to lessons that are ‘rarely disrupted’.
• Governors ‘fulfil all their statutory responsibilities’ and consider staff workload, ensuring staff ‘feel valued by leaders and governors’.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the revised curriculum is ‘fully implemented in all year groups’ to address ‘gaps in their knowledge and understanding’ for older pupils in key stage 2 in some foundation subjects.
• Early years staff should better utilise opportunities during play to ‘broaden their vocabulary and extend their thinking’, as they currently ‘miss out on opportunities to encourage children to extend the range of words’.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with staff receiving ‘regular and up-to-date training’ and leaders ensuring pupils and families receive ‘effective support’ when concerns arise.