Ofsted praises Carrfield Primary Academy's reading culture and safeguarding

Carrfield Primary Academy in Bolton on Dearne, which was last inspected six years ago, was described as a happy and welcoming place in which pupils flourish and are supported to be the best that they can be.

Th e watchdog’s report also praised the culture of reading at the school, the phonics teaching, early years provision, the range of extracurricular activities on offer and the “ambitious” curriculum.

Inspectors said that pupil behaviour was excellent, strong routines are in place, and there were positive relationships between children and adults.

Safeguarding was also said to be effective, with staff receiving regular training and correctly identifying and supporting those who may be at risk.

Principal Katie Adamski said: “I am constantly impressed by the dedication of our staff, pupils and wider community, and I am so pleased to see so much of our hard work recognised with the continuation of our good rating.

“I am thrilled that the report highlights that our school is a happy and welcoming place in which both pupils and staff flourish.

“It is brilliant to see the recognition of our ambitious curriculum, excellent phonics teaching, breadth of extra-curricular activities we offer and the brilliant behaviour of our pupils.

“We know that we can improve the school even further, and we welcome the feedback from Ofsted on how we can do this.”

Ofsted also highlighted areas for improvement, saying there was

variance in how consistently the school’s agreed handwriting policy is applied and standards of handwriting were not good enough.

The inspectors added: “In some foundation subjects, teachers do not check pupils’ learning carefully enough.

“This means that teachers do not know if pupils remember their learning or know how to apply it.

“Leaders should ensure that there are suitable arrangements for checking on pupils’ learning so that staff can use this information to better inform their teaching.

“Teachers do not consistently set pupils tasks that enable them to demonstrate their learning.

“When this occurs, pupils do not build their knowledge well.

“Leaders should ensure that staff develop their understanding of pedagogy so that teaching helps pupils to successfully deepen their knowledge in all subjects."

Reflecting on Ofsted’s identified areas for improvement, Ms Adamski: “Ofsted’s recommendations align with what we had already identified as areas for development for our school, and we are working hard to drive forward improvement where needed.”

Rowena Hackwood, chief executive of Astrea Academy Trust, of which Carrfield is a member, said: “I am so proud of Katie and her team for retaining their good rating.

“As a staff body, they are completely committed to providing brilliant education for all at Carrfield Academy.

“The school is at the heart of the local community and this report serves as an important reminder of the brilliant impact we are having on the lives of so many families.”