Thomas Hinderwell Primary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 November 2025

Pupils at this school belong to a warm and inclusive community. Staff greet them by name each morning and make sure they feel noticed and welcomed. Children in the early years settle quickly because adults teach routines clearly and build trusting relationships. Across the school, pupils form positive friendships, work together happily and enjoy taking on responsibilities such as class jobs, house roles and junior leadership positions. Through trips, visitors, themed events and curriculum-linked activities, staff broaden pupils' experiences beyond the classroom and help them see a world wider than their own. Pupils talk about kindness, fairness and respect in ways that show these values are part of everyday school life. Pupils thrive because behaviour and safeguarding routines help them to feel safe, and as a result, they are ready to learn. Classrooms and social times are typically calm and orderly. Pupils say that bullying is uncommon and that adults deal with problems fairly and quickly should they arise. Leaders and staff keep a very close eye on attendance and punctuality, work sensitively with families and celebrate improvements, so the vast majority of pupils attend regularly. Through lessons, assemblies and discussion, pupils learn about equality, fundamental British values and different communities. They develop a clear understanding of what it means to contribute positively to their school, local area and modern Britain. Pupils achieve well, particularly so in reading, English and mathematics. Here, leaders have prioritised rapid improvements. Staff teach phonics with consistency and care, so most pupils, including those who are vulnerable, learn to read with growing confidence from low starting points. Pupils enjoy many of their lessons and talk with interest about topics such as geography and history. However, teaching in some wider curriculum subjects does not always help pupils to think deeply or to remember important knowledge.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should support staff to implement the curriculum in early years as intended to ensure that children have further opportunities to develop, practise and learn new knowledge.
• Leaders should ensure that staff further develop their use of assessment to design and adapt learning in the wider curriculum so that tasks deepen pupils' thinking, build securely on prior knowledge and lead to a more secure understanding over time.

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