Linthwaite Ardron CofE (Voluntary Aided) Junior and Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 April 2026

Pupils flourish at this school because they are valued as individuals. Pupils' high attendance reflects their enthusiasm for school. They are keen to learn and enjoy the many opportunities on offer. Pupils feel safe because staff support and care for them well. Happiness and kindness reflect pupils’ attitudes. Pupils enjoy the thoughtfully planned experiences, such as visits to another local primary school to develop friendships in preparation for joining secondary school. Older pupils understand the importance of including and respecting everyone no matter their differences. There is a well-established culture of respect in the school as a result. Incidents of unkindness are very rare, and pupils say that bullying does not happen. Staff are quick to deal with any incidents effectively. Teachers make learning interesting, which helps pupils to enjoy lessons. Pupils show positive attitudes to learning. On the whole, pupils achieve well. In reading and writing in national tests, pupils achieve particularly well. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged often outperform their peers. By the time they leave the school at the end of Year 6, pupils are ready for secondary school. Children in the early years are happy and settled. However, staff interactions with children vary in quality. This means that some children benefit from purposeful dialogue, while others do not receive the support that they need to develop important knowledge and skills, including vocabulary. Opportunities for pupils to broaden their view of the world are plentiful, such as participating in the annual pilgrimage and competing in sports competitions. Leaders design opportunities based on their deep knowledge of pupils and the local community. For example, pupils work with local groups, including the local food bank and welcome centre. This helps pupils to understand their role within the community.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that all staff who work with children in the early years have the necessary expertise to engage in high-quality interactions with children in all areas of learning both indoors and outdoors.
• Leaders should continue to embed recently introduced strategies to secure pupils' foundational knowledge in mathematics and handwriting so that pupils build greater fluency and accuracy over time.
• Leaders should ensure that safeguarding records provide a full picture of the actions taken by the school to promote pupils' wellbeing.

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