Askrigg Voluntary Controlled Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 April 2023

Pupils are well behaved in lessons and at playtimes. Bullying seldom happens and pupils feel safe in school. Pupils know they can talk to the adults about any concerns. Pupils who attend this school are also educated on the sites of two partner schools in the federation, West Burton Church of England Primary School and Bainbridge Church of England Primary and Nursery School. The three schools operate together across three sites. Pupils return to their registered school for a celebration assembly every Friday. This contributes to the sense of community in each individual school. Leaders have high expectations of what pupils can achieve and they deliver a broad curriculum. However, the early years curriculum is not sufficiently detailed to prepare pupils for Year 1. Learning plans are in place for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). In some cases, these plans do not fully reflect the pupil's primary need. Therefore, some interventions do not bring about rapid learning and catch up. Pupils enjoy the variety of experiences linked to the curriculum, such as taking part in the Wensleydale tournament. This involves pupils showcasing their musical talents in front of others.

What the school should improve

• Leaders' expectations for what children in the early years can achieve is not sufficiently ambitious. The curriculum lacks the necessary detail for all staff to understand exactly what should be delivered in the areas of learning. This means that some children do not learn as much as they should. Leaders should ensure that they set out the exact knowledge they want children to learn in a sequenced, logical order, so that children will be prepared for their next stage in education.
• Leaders have not identified the precise needs of some pupils with SEND. Therefore, the strategies and targets that are set out in their personal plans are not precise enough. As a result, the curriculum is not consistently well matched to their specific needs. Leaders should ensure that the needs of pupils with SEND are clearly identified. The improvement targets for these pupils should be precise and well matched to these needs.
• Leaders are in the process of further revising the curriculum. The intent and ambitions of the curriculum are clear. However, the guidance for teachers is less detailed in some subject areas. This leads to some inconsistencies in the delivery of the curriculum. Leaders should ensure that all curriculum guidance contains the level of detail that staff need to fully deliver the intended curriculum.

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