Little Bollington CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 May 2024

Pupils enjoy their time at this small and friendly school. They like the fact that everyone knows each other and that the differences between them and other pupils are accepted and celebrated. Pupils value the help they receive from staff, who care about them. They know that they will be listened to if they share any worries. Pupils behave well. They adhere to the school's rules so that classrooms are calm and pupils can learn without disruption. Pupils trust their teachers to sort out disagreements fairly. Pupils are articulate. They cooperate with one another in class and they listen carefully to their teachers. Pupils work hard. They strive to meet the school's reviewed expectations for their learning. However, while they achieve well in some subjects, they are less able to remember some of what they learn in other subjects. This is because the curriculum beyond English and mathematics is fairly recent. Some pupils have not had enough time to benefit from its ambitious subject content. Pupils have a range of opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. For instance, trips to local museums and historical sites are regular features of the school calendar. Pupils enjoy a variety of clubs such as archery, dodgeball and basketball. Older pupils become 'SOS Crew' members. These pupils support others during lunchtimes and breaktimes. In so doing, they learn valuable leadership skills.

What the school should improve

• The delivery of the new curriculum in variable across different subjects. At times, historical gaps in pupils' learning are not identified or addressed. This hinders pupils from building a secure body of knowledge over time. The school should ensure that teachers receive the support and development that they need to deliver the refreshed curriculums consistently well.
• The school's checks on the implementation of the new curriculums have not led to a secure insight into what is working well, and which areas require further refinement. This means that some pupils are not benefiting fully from the more ambitious subject content. The school should ensure that it monitors and evaluates the implementation of the new curriculums more effectively to make sure that they are having the desired impact on pupils' learning.

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