Cottam Primary School, located in Preston, Lancashire, has been assessed as a good school following an ungraded inspection conducted on April 18 and 19, 2023. The overall judgement remains unchanged, but evidence suggests that a graded inspection might yield a lower rating. The next inspection will be a graded one. The school is characterized by a friendly and welcoming atmosphere where pupils demonstrate care and respect for one another. They enjoy attending school, largely due to the positive relationships they have with their teachers. The leadership takes reports of bullying seriously and addresses incidents effectively, contributing to a safe environment for students.
Pupils appreciate opportunities that extend their learning beyond the classroom, such as educational trips and leadership roles in initiatives like the eco-council. The school has high expectations for behavior and achievement, which most pupils respond to positively, fostering motivation to learn. Recently, the curriculum has been redesigned to be broad and balanced, although leaders are still in the early stages of ensuring its effective delivery. Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is currently inadequate, resulting in these students not achieving their full potential.
The new leadership team has been proactive in improving educational quality, having restructured the curriculum to be ambitious and engaging. They have identified essential knowledge for pupils but have yet to establish effective assessment strategies across many subjects. Consequently, teachers struggle to gauge how well pupils are learning, leading to inconsistent achievement levels. The phonics program has been improved, with children in the Reception class learning sounds in a logical order, which aids their phonics knowledge development. However, some pupils are not reading books that match their phonics knowledge, hindering their confidence and fluency in reading.
Reading promotion within the school is limited, with pupils lacking exposure to a diverse range of texts, including non-fiction and poetry. This lack of variety prevents some students from developing a love for reading. Leaders have introduced systems to identify pupils with special educational needs, ensuring their needs are recognized early. However, some teachers are not adequately equipped to support these pupils effectively, which affects their achievement.
The school has implemented a new behavior management system that is consistently followed by staff, leading to a calm and orderly environment. Most pupils attend school regularly, and the personal, social, health, and economic curriculum has been redesigned to teach students about relationships and healthy living. Diversity is celebrated through initiatives that expose pupils to different cultures.
Governors possess the skills and expertise to support school leaders and understand the community well, enabling them to challenge decisions effectively. The well-being of staff is prioritized, contributing to a positive working environment. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders fostering strong links with families and other agencies to support pupils at risk. Staff are trained in safeguarding procedures, ensuring timely and effective support for pupils.
To improve, the school needs to ensure that teachers are well-equipped to adapt the curriculum for pupils with special educational needs. Additionally, checks on pupils' learning must be more effective to enhance achievement. Leaders should ensure that reading materials align with pupils' phonics knowledge and provide opportunities for a broader range of texts to foster a love of reading. Overall, while Cottam Primary School demonstrates many strengths, there are areas that require attention to enhance the educational experience for all pupils.
