St Aidan's Church of England Memorial Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 16 June 2026

Positive relationships are at the heart of school life at St Aidan's. Staff work tenaciously to build effective partnerships with parents and carers. They often go 'above and beyond' to provide support for families, so that pupils are kept safe, attend regularly and are well known. Parents value the high-quality pastoral care that the school provides. It helps to create a distinct sense of community where staff support pupils to achieve the school’s vision to 'grow together with love.' Pupils trust the staff and have confidence that they will respond quickly to any concerns raised. Bullying is rare. Pupils enjoy the friendships they make. The school rules, 'be ready, respectful and safe', are securely understood by pupils. In lessons, pupils work hard. Around school they demonstrate excellent manners and welcome visitors warmly. Pupils across all key stages play and work together cooperatively, including in the early years. The school's core value of 'togetherness' is reflected in the way pupils feel a deep sense of belonging at St Aidan's. One pupil captured the view of many others when they told inspectors: 'I feel like I fit in here.' Pupils follow a broad curriculum that leaders continue to develop. Teaching is generally effective. Pupils are supported to remember what they have learnt over time and they typically achieve well in national tests. A high proportion of pupils face additional barriers to learning and/or their wellbeing. These pupils are supported to learn effectively alongside their peers. They make secure progress and are well cared for. Opportunities to be school councillors, 'buddies' and lunchtime monitors provide pupils with ways to play an active part in school life and develop wider skills such as teamwork, communication and a sense of responsibility. Residential visits develop pupils' independence. Trips to different places of worship enrich pupils' understanding of world faiths, helping to prepare them for life in modern Britain.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should embed recent changes to the curriculum and ensure that pupils benefit from consistent, high-quality, adaptive teaching.
• Leaders should continue to strengthen the expertise of subject leaders so they can embed recent changes, sustain improvements and lead further development of the curriculum effectively.

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