Children enjoy a 'flying start to their education' at this Leeds primary school - Ofsted report
A primary school in Leeds has been praised by Ofsted inspectors for helping children make a “flying start to their education.”
Adel Primary School, located on Tile Lane, Adel, received a ‘Strong Standard’ rating in all seven inspected areas during an Ofsted visit in February.
The school received the second highest score possible in the categories of achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, early years, inclusion, leadership and governance and personal development and wellbeing.
Adel was previously rated as Good under the old Ofsted scoring system, following visits in 2017 and 2022.
The education watchdog said: “Children in the early years get off to a flying start to their education. They play and learn in a stimulating, well-considered environment. Staff expertly develop children’s language, vocabulary and communication skills.
“Leaders’ strong understanding of the curriculum and teaching underpins well-judged decisions that ensure ongoing improvement. The school provides an ambitious curriculum that is of a consistently high quality across subjects and phases.”
Teachers have “high ambitions for all pupils’ achievement, particularly for those who face barriers to learning,” according to the report. These ambitions are rewarded as achievement is high across all areas of the curriculum.
Pupils arriving in the morning are described by inspectors as “cheerful, upbeat and ready to learn.” They follow well established routines, moving sensibly into classrooms and settling quickly into well-planned tasks.
The school is relentless in ensuring that attendance is high. The school records and monitors patterns of attendance with precision, and where there are dips in attendance, the school works with families to make improvements and build positive attendance habits.
Inspectors added: “The school quickly and expertly identifies where pupils face barriers. Rigorous systems ensure that the school monitors and assesses the progress of these pupils with rigour. Pupils, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), receive targeted support or well-considered adaptations to the curriculum.
“Staff know the best ways to support pupils as a result of regular, high-quality training. This equips them to spot pupils’ barriers early. Parents of pupils with SEND value the way the school involves them closely in plans to support their children.”
Leaders oversee a school that benefits significantly from their vision and commitment, according to the report. They have a keen insight into the school’s strengths and areas for improvement and have robust systems for monitoring the impact of improvement strategies.
The impact of the Adel primary’s personal development offer is said to be evident in pupils, who are “responsible, reflective and highly respectful.” Pupils and parents are “proud to be part of a multicultural environment.”
Focusing on next steps, inspectors advised the school’s leadership to maintain and build on the school's “highly effective work to implement the recently refined assessment system,” particularly to ensure pupils' standards of writing continue to match the consistently high outcomes seen in other parts of the curriculum.