Knightlow CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 October 2024

Pupils love attending this friendly and welcoming school that is at the heart of the community. The warm and nurturing relationships between adults and pupils that permeate the school are summed up by one pupil who said, 'We are surrounded by love and kindness.' Pupils know that if they have a worry, there is an adult who will listen to them. This means that they feel safe. The school is ambitious for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils are committed to their learning and produce work of a high quality. They achieve exceptionally well in reading, writing and mathematics. Pupils typically behave well. Older pupils act as excellent role models to younger pupils around school. Pupils proudly take on responsibilities in school. This helps them to develop their independence and leadership skills. A rich range of wider opportunities enhance and further the curriculum. Pupils benefit from the different extra-curricular clubs and trips. The sporting offer for all pupils, including pupils with SEND, is a particular strength. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about all aspects of school life, often referring to the 'Knightlow family' and the strong community links.

What the school should improve

• Some aspects of safeguarding record-keeping are not as well organised as they should be. Safeguarding records do not include all the records of discussions, action taken and decisions made. The school is already beginning to rectify this by implementing a new reporting and recording system. However, this is in the early stages of being implemented. The school needs to make sure that systems are in place that enable them to review all aspects of the school's work to keep pupils safe.
• Foundation subjects are not as well designed and sequenced as they should be. This has an impact on the level of knowledge that pupils retain. The school should ensure that subject leaders receive the support they need to develop their subjects sufficiently to ensure that learning builds sequentially so that pupils know and remember more.
• In some foundation subjects, teachers do not use assessment well enough to check that pupils fully understand what they have been taught. This prevents pupils from building their knowledge securely on what they already know. The school should ensure that teachers use assessment strategies effectively in all subjects to support pupils' next steps in learning.

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