Adlington Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud to be part of this small and nurturing school.

They carefully follow the motto 'Inspire, Believe, Achieve.' Pupils are happy and feel safe, and they enjoy spending time with friends of all ages across the school. They behave extremely well during lessons and at social times.

Pupils spoke enthusiastically about the school being a welcoming place where they can be themselves and are treated as individuals.

The vast array of opportunities on offer to pupils is highly impressive. Pupils enjoy activities such as lacrosse, STEM club and gardening.

They benefit greatly from a well-thought-out enrichment programme that builds on the school's... curriculum and meets the needs of its pupils. For example, pupils visit museums, theatres and many places of worship. Pupils understand the importance of equality and diversity.

They recognise that the differences that exist between people help to make the world a more interesting place.

Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, meet the high aspirations that the school has for them. They work hard and excel across the curriculum.

Pupils have a thirst for knowledge. This is underpinned by the school's excellent work to support pupils to develop positive attitudes towards themselves, each other and their school. They are confident and highly articulate about their current and past learning.

As a result, pupils achieve exceptionally well.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The curriculum is highly ambitious. It enables pupils to shine in each subject.

The school has carefully constructed its curriculum so that it clearly identifies the knowledge that pupils should know and remember from the Reception class to the end of Year 6.

Staff deliver the curriculum in a way that ignites pupils' curiosity and builds a thirst for learning. Pupils develop a rich body of knowledge across a range of subjects.

The school provides teachers with resources of exceptional quality to support the delivery of the curriculum. Staff spoke of the high-quality training and wider support that they receive from across the trust. This helps to develop their confidence and inform their practice.

School leaders look after staff's workload and well-being.

The school carefully checks that staff deliver the curriculum well. It makes sure that teachers introduce new learning at exactly the right time.

Teachers do this expertly. They check what pupils know and remember from the curriculum before moving on to new learning. As a result, pupils excel academically and are well prepared for their next stage of education.

The school recognises the fundamental importance of teaching pupils to read. From the moment that children enter the Reception class, there is a drive for them to excel with their phonics learning. Children use their knowledge of letters and the sounds that they represent to write sentences independently.

The school ensures that staff in the early years, and in key stage 1, deliver the phonics curriculum with fidelity. Pupils read books that are carefully matched to the sounds that they know. This helps pupils to gain the secure phonics knowledge that they need.

Over time, pupils develop into confident and highly competent readers. This helps them to access the full curriculum and contributes to their strong achievement across all subjects.

Pupils value their education.

They look forward to attending school, particularly after time away during school holidays. Pupils' behaviour during lessons and at social times is exemplary. They know that there are trusted adults in school who they can talk with to share any worries that they may have.

Pupils and staff build relationships based on mutual respect. The school takes the time to get to know pupils and their families well at whatever point they join the school. It establishes links with parents and carers from the moment that children start in the Reception class.

Parents actively participate in many projects and school activities and genuinely feel that the school is an extension of their family.

Pupils develop as exceptionally well-rounded youngsters due to the excellent provision that they receive to support their personal development. Pupils learn about keeping themselves safe online.

They know how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and understand the importance of looking after their mental well-being. Pupils develop their talents and interests beyond the academic curriculum, such as through the end-of-year Christmas production and various leadership roles. Members of the eco council deliver assemblies to support younger pupils in their understanding of climate change and sustainability initiatives.

Pupils make a highly tangible contribution to the life of the school.

Staff, members of the local governing body and trustees are incredibly proud to be a part of this inspirational school. Governors diligently fulfil their statutory duties.

They provide support and challenge so that all in the school can meet the high expectations that they set. Everyone associated with the school is invested in a common purpose to provide a high-quality, ambitious education for pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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