Pilgrims' Cross CofE Aided Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 June 2026

Pupils are proud of their school. They grow in confidence through roles and responsibilities such as librarian, junior road safety officer and school councillors. Pupils offer their views readily and develop confidence as they progress through each year group. Relationships are very positive. Pupils are polite and respectful towards staff and each other. Bullying is rare, and pupils are confident that any issues would be resolved quickly. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities have their needs identified quickly. They thrive as a result of thoughtful, caring support. Staff overcome pupils' barriers to learning and/or wellbeing skilfully. In some subject areas, pupils learn the curriculum well. Pupils build knowledge and skills in reading and mathematics and in some subjects across the wider curriculum. For example, in French pupils can describe the weather using points of a compass and recall weather phrases. In geography some pupils spoke about push and pull factors in population movement knowledgably. In writing, however, and some wider curriculum subjects, staff do not consistently check pupils’ understanding as effectively as they could. As a result, some pupils have misconceptions that are not addressed, or gaps in their knowledge. Teaching has rapidly improved over the last year, but by the end of key stage 2 too many pupils are not secure in the knowledge they need across the full curriculum. Pupils know the school's values of love, courage and trust well. They develop a depth of understanding to be able to share examples of how these values impact positively on their daily life, both inside school and beyond. Pupils model positive behaviour and attitudes to learning. They learn how to be role models for each other. In classrooms and on the playground, pupils know what is expected from them clearly. Pupils' attendance is high. Pupils rarely miss school, feel safe and are very happy.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that, by the end of key stage 2, pupils’ published outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics are consistently in line with or above national averages.
• Leaders should ensure that across the wider curriculum staff use assessment consistently and effectively to check pupils’ understanding and make changes to teaching and the curriculum that enhance pupils’ knowledge more effectively.
• Leaders should ensure that lesson activity choices are designed effectively to build on what pupils know and understand, ensuring pupils maximise their learning within lessons and across the curriculum, including in the early years.

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