St Oswald's CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 May 2026

Pupils at St Oswald’s Church of England Primary School arrive happily each morning. They enjoy attending a caring, welcoming school with a friendly community atmosphere. Staff know pupils well. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm. Pupils feel secure and are welcomed cheerfully by those around them. This helps pupils to feel safe. Pupils are proud of their school and have a real sense of belonging. Pupils enjoy their learning. Some particularly enjoy learning to read. However, some pupils do not achieve as well as they could. Some pupils struggle to write accurately and do not apply their knowledge of grammar and punctuation consistently. Some pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, find it difficult to build on what they have learned. In the early years, some children are not as well prepared for Year 1 as they could be. Pupils behave well and conduct themselves calmly around the school. They are polite, respectful and welcoming to visitors. Bullying or any discriminatory behaviour are rare and not tolerated. When concerns arise, staff respond promptly. Leaders work with families to emphasise the importance of regular attendance. Pupils at this school love to sing and perform at community events. They enjoy a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including clubs, sports and outdoor adventures. Older pupils take on leadership roles and responsibilities. They take pride in representing their school and their community. These opportunities help pupils to develop the confidence they need for life in modern Britain.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should make sure that teachers consistently adapt the curriculum to enable vulnerable pupils to learn well.
• Leaders should make sure that teachers plan activities that build pupils' knowledge effectively and do not allow gaps in pupils' understanding to appear.
• Leaders should ensure that teachers identify and address gaps in pupils’ understanding, particularly in grammar, punctuation and spelling.
• Leaders should refine the early years curriculum so that adults can plan activities matched to what children need to learn to ensure that children are prepared well for Year 1.
• Governors should make sure that they are accurately informed about the school’s performance and hold leaders to account precisely, particularly for pupil outcomes.

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