Padiham Green Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 February 2026

Pupils at Padiham Green strive to do everything with a ‘kind heart’. Pupils attend well and staff welcome pupils warmly through the gates every morning. They provide attentive support which helps pupils feel safe and ready to learn. Positive relationships between staff and pupils are a golden thread that runs through school, starting with personal, social and emotional development in the Reception Year. The school lies at the heart of a community that pupils enjoy being actively involved in. For example, they take part in tree and bulb planting in the local area and support the food bank. Leaders have raised expectations for pupils' behaviour and their academic success. However, a significant proportion of pupils are not well prepared for their next steps in education when they leave key stage 2. This includes those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face other barriers to their learning. Pupils say that they feel safe. They are consistently polite and welcoming to visitors. If bullying happens, adults resolve issues effectively. Many pupils move around the school calmly and engage positively in their learning. However, in a minority of classrooms and at transition times, there is some disruptive behaviour. At times, this interrupts pupils’ learning. Pupils develop a secure understanding of life in modern Britain. They confidently describe how the school's values support their understanding of the fundamental British values, such as respect and tolerance. They value the range of trips and events on offer that leaders have thoughtfully organised to bring pupils' learning to life. For example, pupils talk excitedly about the mobile planetarium and outdoor pursuits on their residential trip. These opportunities broaden pupils’ experiences and help develop their talents.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that they build community cohesion and trusting relationships with all stakeholders, including staff, parents and carers, so that all pupils achieve well, experience a consistent sense of belonging and thrive at the school.
• Leaders should ensure staff are proficient in designing activities that meet pupils' needs and that lead to pupils learning the curriculum securely and achieving consistently well.
• Leaders should ensure that gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge are identified and addressed quickly and consistently.
• Leaders should ensure that staff are well trained to implement the new behaviour policy and that they follow it consistently so that behaviour incidents are managed effectively and reduce over time.
• Leaders should work towards supporting pupils to be self reflective about their actions and behave with integrity and consideration towards others.

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