Shardlow Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 October 2022

This is a small school with a happy and caring ethos. Pupils praise the interesting lessons and activities provided for them. They say, 'There is lots of fun and the right amount of time to learn.' Pupils behave well in lessons and around school. They cooperate well and are kind to each other. Pupils say that they feel safe at school because their friends and teachers look after them well. They enjoy taking on roles such as 'junior leader' and 'eco ambassador'. These roles help to develop pupils' sense of responsibility and leadership. Pupils can take part in a range of clubs and activities, such as sports, music, book club, coding club and robotics club. Leaders ensure that these are inclusive activities, open to all pupils. Pupils understand the meaning of bullying. They know that it is wrong and that they should tell an adult, or use the 'worry box', if they have any concerns. Bullying rarely happens. However, pupils are confident that adults take any such concerns seriously. Children in the early years settle quickly into well-planned routines. They are ready to learn and make the most of the range of activities provided for them, across all areas of learning.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have revised the curriculum to ensure that it sets out what pupils should know, and be able to do, from the early years to Year 6. This work is almost complete. In a small number of foundation subjects, further refinements are required to the curriculum design and implementation. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is fully planned and sequenced in all subjects and enables all pupils to know and remember more as they progress through the school.
• In some areas of the curriculum, teachers do not pick up on pupils' misconceptions as quickly as they should in lessons. They do not always step in to provide the support that pupils require. When this happens, pupils are unclear about the key content they should know and remember. They are at risk of falling behind and developing gaps in knowledge and skills that may impede their progress. Leaders should ensure that teachers understand how best to check pupils' understanding, to enable them to address pupils' misconceptions, and provide timely support, so that pupils know more and remember more over time.

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