Sicklinghall school rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

Last updated Jan 24, 2024

Sicklinghall Community Primary School

Sicklinghall Community Primary School, near Harrogate, has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.

The findings were published in a report yesterday following a two-day inspection in November.

Government inspectors rated the school, which has 43 pupils, ‘good’ in three out of four categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management.

They rated personal development provisions ‘outstanding’.

Inspectors said “pupils are happy, inquisitive and friendly” and found both staff and children demonstrate a “tangible sense of pride to be part of the school community”. They added:

“Leaders create an environment of high expectations for behaviour and achievement.

“Pupils achieve well and behave well at this school. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

“Bullying is rare. Pupils are confident that staff would deal with any bullying quickly and effectively should it occur.”

The report found children in reception benefit from a “carefully planned and well-sequenced curriculum” and said this underpins “the school’s ambition of allowing pupils of all abilities, including those with SEND, to succeed”.

Inspectors also found the school’s curriculum for personal development to be “exceptional”, adding:

“The curriculum is explicitly planned to allow for a wide range of high-quality experiences.

“These strengthen pupils’ awareness of what it is to be a citizen in modern Britain.

“Spiritual development, including a link with the village church, is very effective.

“Pupils show knowledge and understanding of different religions, faiths and cultures. A range of visitors to school and extracurricular visits strengthens this offer.”

The report also said children “relish” opportunities to take on leadership roles, such as prefects, ambassadors or school councillors.

As part of a concern that pupils raised around road safety, pupils met with the parish council and the police and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire, inspectors said, adding:

“This resulted in increased awareness within the village of the need for a 20mph speed limit. Pupils and staff are rightly proud of the positive impact that this campaign had.”

The report also found “all adults are well trained to fulfil their roles in school” and said leaders and governors have “high ambition expectations” for staff and pupils.

Areas of improvement

Ofsted inspectors said that in a small number of foundation subjects, the implementation of the curriculum is “not as well established as it is in others”. They said:

“This means that pupils’ acquisition of knowledge and skills is variable across the curriculum subjects.

“The school should ensure that all curriculum subjects are fully implemented and embedded so that pupils’ acquisition of knowledge and skills is consistent in all subjects.”

Headteacher ‘delighted’

In response to the report, Zoe Ellis, executive headteacher of Sicklinghall Community Primary School, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are delighted with the grading and that Ofsted recognised such strength in leadership to provide outstanding personal development for the children.

“Our small school is a real family hub which provides the very best pastoral support alongside a very high-quality curriculum!”