Nenthead Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 June 2024

Pupils are happy and proud to attend this small school, which is at the heart of the local community. They value the positive relationships that they have with other pupils and with staff. Pupils told the inspector that everybody is treated equally at their school, which they described as 'like a family'. The school has high expectations for pupils' achievement, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Typically, pupils meet these expectations. They achieve well across a range of subjects. Pupils appreciate receiving the school's TED awards for demonstrating 'technique, effort, desire' in their work. Pupils behave well. During lessons, they concentrate on their learning. This helps classrooms to be calm and purposeful. Pupils get along well together across the school. They support and encourage each other, for instance by complimenting the pupil who is selected as the 'special person' for that week. The school provides pupils with a rich range of experiences that enhance their learning. For example, pupils go on a variety of trips and visits to the local area and further afield, including to farms, museums, residentials and dance performances. They enjoy many activities, such as canoeing, ghyll scrambling and after-school clubs in gardening, art and construction.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, the assessment strategies that staff use do not check how well pupils have embedded prior learning. This means that pupils' learning in these subjects is not as secure as it should be, which results in some gaps in pupils' knowledge over time. The school should strengthen its assessment strategies in these subjects, so that pupils know and remember more.

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