Lowton Junior and Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 June 2025

Each morning, pupils are warmly welcomed by staff at the gate. Pupils wear their uniforms with pride and clearly enjoy their time at school. Pupils are kind, considerate and supportive of one another. The school fosters an inclusive and nurturing environment where strong, trusting relationships between staff and pupils are evident. Pupils have a clear understanding of the school's core values of respect, curiosity and aspiration. Staff actively encourage pupils to enact these values in all aspects of school life. Pupils are expected to achieve well, and they do. By the time they leave Year 6, most pupils are ready for the next stage of their education. Pupils said that they feel well prepared for the challenges of secondary school. Pupils of all ages delight in playing together at breaktime. They play football, exercise on the outdoor gym machines, read books and play card games. Playleaders are easily identified by their special caps. They find it rewarding to help younger pupils play together. Pupils are given the opportunity to try new experiences during 'Enrichment Friday'. They promote their well-being through meditation and their thinking skills through debate. Beyond the academic curriculum, the school supports pupils' preparedness for the future well. For example, older pupils consider money management and careers.

What the school should improve

• The school has had limited success in reducing the proportion of pupils who are persistently absent from school. These pupils sometimes find it difficult to catch up on missed learning, and their achievement is hampered as a result. The school should ensure that it strengthens its work to improve pupils' attendance so pupils can learn and achieve even more consistently.
• In some subjects, staff do not check consistently well what pupils have learned and remembered. This means that, on occasion, staff do not identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge. The school should ensure that staff check pupils' understanding with greater precision and consistency so that they design learning that builds on what pupils know and can do.
• There are some gaps in the knowledge and skills of the governing body. This prevents it from holding the school to account for quality of education as well as it could. The school should ensure that governors are equipped to support and challenge the school effectively.

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