Lindale CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 February 2024

Pupils are cherished at this small and friendly school. The school's motto, 'let your light shine', is brought to life daily. Pupils are supported to achieve their personal best. Differences between people are valued and nurtured. Pupils are happy. They are well cared for and feel accepted. The school has high expectations for pupils' achievement. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils are positive about school and their learning. Typically, they achieve well. Year 6 pupils are well prepared for their secondary education. Most pupils behave well during lessons and at playtimes. They understand school rules and they know that these rules help them to stay safe. Pupils thrive in their various roles and responsibilities. These include acting as pupil parliament members, library monitors and eco-warriors. Pupils benefit from a range of enrichment experiences. For example, they discover new interests and talents through clubs, such as ukulele, rugby and judo. Outdoor areas are thoughtfully designed to offer pupils the chance to sit quietly and read, as well as to explore nature and learn how to take care of the environment.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, and areas of learning in the early years, the school has not given sufficient thought to the essential knowledge that pupils should learn and the order that this should be taught. This prevents some pupils from achieving as well as they should in these subjects. The school should refine its curriculum thinking so that staff know exactly what pupils should learn and when this should be taught in these remaining subjects.
• Approaches to assessment are underdeveloped in a few subjects. At times, this hinders how well staff check that pupils have retained earlier learning. The school should determine how best to check that pupils have secure foundations on which to build new learning.
• The school does not ensure that some staff provide effective support for the pupils who struggle to regulate their own behaviour. This means that on occasions, low-level disruption interrupts learning during lessons. The school should ensure that staff support pupils to regulate their own behaviour so that they, and other pupils, can learn all that they should.

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