Bugthorpe Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 June 2026

This is a school where pupils are cherished. Pupils are happy, safe, kind and respectful. Pupils and staff follow their pathway and grow with confidence. Pupils' pastoral and emotional needs are addressed. Parents are exceptionally positive about the school. Everyone knows each other, cares for each other and wants the best for the pupils here. Pupils behave well. Unkind words are rare. If ever pupils fall out with each other, staff help them to patch up any differences. Discriminatory language is hardly ever heard. In lessons, pupils focus on the task in hand, in the main. Leaders have a heart for the most vulnerable. As such, there is a focus on supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. These pupils’ needs are addressed. Staff know any additional pressures that pupils and families are facing and provide them with effective support. Pupils benefit considerably from the fact that leaders have prioritised their personal development and wellbeing. Pupils' experiences of school life are enriched by activities such as the team challenge days, trips, visits and clubs. There is a focus on the natural world. Gardening, growing vegetables, allotments and the poly tunnel are central to school life. Pupils gain plenty from the leadership opportunities available to them. Leaders want pupils and staff to flourish. Those responsible for governance have increased leadership capacity recently. This is because over time some improvements have been too slow. As a result, the quality of teaching is currently too variable. Pupils' knowledge of the basics, including spelling, handwriting and basic grammar, has not been as secure as required. Leaders know this. Work is already underway to remedy these weaknesses. Nonetheless, by the time pupils leave school, their attainment in tests and assessments is in line with national averages. Pupils leave ready, emotionally and academically for secondary school.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that teachers fully support pupils to secure their foundational knowledge and that high standards are sustained across the school.
• Leaders should continue to support pupils when writing at length with accuracy and precision. This is so that they develop their skills across their time in school, thus ensuring that more pupils reach the higher standard in external tests.
• Those responsible for governance should ensure that the increased leadership capacity has a positive impact on the quality of education and the rate of improvement. This includes the continued use of data and refinement of monitoring processes.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)