Ray Lodge Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 February 2026

Pupils are happy and confident at Ray Lodge Primary School. This is reflected in the way that they embody the school's values. These values, such as aspiration, resilience and emotional awareness, are lived out daily by pupils and staff. Pupils speak warmly about the kindness of their teachers. Pupils are confident that they will receive help when they need it. Most parents and carers agree that their children enjoy learning and feel safe at the school. Pupils learn effectively through a carefully considered curriculum. Typically, teachers support pupils to develop secure knowledge across the curriculum. Leaders work closely with the trust to identify, with precision, any areas of the curriculum where pupils do not achieve as highly as they could. Pupils are encouraged to 'strive for excellence' throughout their school life. They are supported to achieve well in national tests, including pupils who are disadvantaged. Consequently, pupils are well prepared for their next steps in education. Behaviour is calm and respectful. Bullying is very rare and dealt with effectively. Staff support pupils to manage their emotions effectively. Staff ensure that any pupils with barriers to learning, including those who are disadvantaged, receive the help that they need to be ready to learn. The school is a place where pupils flourish beyond the classroom. Pupils relish opportunities to explore the wider world. They speak highly of 'the pledge'. Through this, the school provides a set of culturally enriching experiences to broaden pupils' understanding. The school supports pupils' personal development very effectively and helps prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain. Pupils are knowledgeable about online safety. For example, they understand the risks of 'too good to be true' digital scams. Pupils' readiness for life beyond school and to play an active part in society is well planned for and supported.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that staff enhance opportunities for high-quality talk and interaction with pupils, including in the early years, so that pupils improve their understanding and use of language and vocabulary.
• Leaders should further strengthen consistency in staff's understanding and use of adaptive teaching practices, so that pupils build securely and in depth on what they already know.
• Leaders should further develop their approaches to overseeing behaviour, so they have a clearer overview of trends and evaluate the impact of their actions more precisely.

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