Looe Primary School, located in East Looe, Cornwall, has been recognized for its significant improvements since the last inspection, where it was rated as requiring improvement. The recent inspection, conducted in January 2019, resulted in an overall effectiveness rating of good across all key areas, including leadership and management, quality of teaching, personal development, behavior and welfare, outcomes for pupils, and early years provision. The leadership team, comprising the headteacher and executive headteacher, has effectively addressed previous concerns, leading to strong pupil achievement and progress across all subjects.
The school has established a well-planned curriculum that engages pupils and supports their personal and social development. Leaders have implemented effective strategies for safeguarding, ensuring a safe environment for all students. The school has fostered strong relationships with parents and the community, which has positively impacted pupil attendance. The emphasis on spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development has helped pupils understand their role in modern society and the importance of British values.
Teaching quality is consistently good, with teachers effectively tailoring learning experiences to meet the diverse needs of pupils. The most able and disadvantaged pupils are appropriately challenged, resulting in strong progress. Teachers have made strides in enhancing pupils' writing skills, although there is still a need for improvement in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The school has set high standards for writing in core subjects, but similar expectations are not consistently applied across other subjects.
Pupils exhibit positive behavior and demonstrate good attitudes towards learning. They respect one another and their teachers, contributing to a supportive learning environment. The school has seen success in phonics screening checks for Years 1 and 2, although some pupils struggle to apply their phonics knowledge to reading. Early years provision is effective, with children quickly adapting to routines and making good progress.
To further improve, the school aims to enhance pupils' reading and writing skills, particularly in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. This includes raising expectations for writing across all subjects and refining phonics instruction in early years and key stage 1. Additionally, the school seeks to improve the use of individual learning plans for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities to better support their learning.
Leadership and management are strong, with a clear vision for the school that has been effectively communicated to staff. The local governing body plays an active role in holding leaders accountable for pupil outcomes. The school has successfully utilized additional funding to support disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, ensuring they make good progress.
The school’s curriculum is broad and balanced, focusing on core subjects while providing opportunities for enrichment through community engagement and extracurricular activities. Pupils express enthusiasm for their learning and demonstrate a keen interest in reading and other subjects. The school has established a positive culture that promotes high standards and encourages pupils to take pride in their work.
Overall, Looe Primary School has made commendable progress since its last inspection, with strong leadership, effective teaching, and a supportive environment contributing to the good outcomes for pupils. The school is well-positioned to continue its journey of improvement, focusing on enhancing literacy skills and ensuring that all pupils receive the support they need to thrive academically and personally.
