Lowtown Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 March 2023

Pupils enjoy their learning in this school. The curriculum is being regularly refined and improved. Leaders are ambitious for pupils academically and in relation to their personal development. Pupils know they are cared for. As one pupil said, 'All the teachers are there for you. They really care.' Pupils move around school calmly. There is an ethos of care, trust and respect within the school. Leaders set clear expectations of pupils' behaviour, and these are shared by staff. Pupils display the 'moral values' of the school in their interactions with staff and each other. Pupils feel that teachers are fair. When there are instances of bullying, they are taken seriously by staff and investigated thoroughly. Pupils have a strong understanding of what bullying is and what it is not. They understand how bullying can also take place online. Pupils have positive attitudes to their learning. They are highly engaged and enthusiastic to share what they have learned and how they have improved. When they find their learning challenging, they are keen to persevere. Pupils look for opportunities in lessons to help each other.

What the school should improve

• The checks that leaders make on their curriculum subjects do not always focus on the way the curriculum is being taught to the pupils who are lower attaining or in danger of falling behind, including those pupils with SEND. As a result, tasks in some lessons are not structured as precisely as they could be to support these learners to be more successful. Leaders should ensure that the checks leaders make on their subjects focus on identifying where teachers need more support to develop their practice in this area.

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