Beckstone Primary School

Inspection of Beckstone Primary School Eadie Street, Workington, Cumbria CA14 5PX

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years provision Good Previous inspection grade Good 5 and 6 December 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy at Beckstone Primary School. They come to school eager to learn and are excited to see their friends and their teachers. Pupils are greeted warmly by staff as they arrive each day. They flourish in the welcoming and friendly environment across the school, including in the early years.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school has high expectations for all pupils’ achievement. Pupils try their best in lessons and listen carefully to their teachers. They talk confidently about their learning and understand why education is important for their future lives. Most pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils behave well and are polite and well mannered. They speak articulately when sharing their own views. They also listen sensibly to opinions that are different to their own and respond in a considered way. Older pupils regularly help younger children and are positive role models for them. They make sure that everyone is welcome.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils appreciate the wide range of opportunities to participate in tournaments and festivals. They are proud to represent their school in a broad range of events, including boccia, table tennis, cross country, hockey, performing arts and singing. These experiences help pupils to develop their self-esteem and teamwork skills.

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better?

The school has designed a broad and well-ordered curriculum for pupils. It has identified the essential knowledge that pupils should learn and has ensured that this builds logically over time. Teachers check what pupils know and remember and use this information to shape future learning. The additional needs of pupils with SEND are identified early. They get the help and support that they need to learn the same curriculum and enjoy the same experiences as their classmates.

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better?

In most subjects, teachers deliver the curriculum well. However, in a small number of subjects, the delivery of the curriculum is not as effective. In these subjects, the support that the school has provided has not been sufficient enough to help staff to implement the curriculum as well as they should. Some pupils do not have the opportunity to develop and deepen their knowledge and skills over time.

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better?

The school has prioritised reading from the beginning of the early years. Pupils often read from a wide range of books and poems in and out of school. They have a number of opportunities to read together for enjoyment. For example, some older pupils share books with younger children each day. All pupils have the chance to read on the school’s inviting reading bus. The school has established a successful phonics programme. Pupils learn letters and the sounds that they represent and use their phonics knowledge to read new and unfamiliar words. Pupils who fall behind in the phonics programme and need help to catch up are supported effectively to do 5 and 6 December 2023

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so. This helps most pupils to become confident and fluent readers in readiness for key stage 2.

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Most pupils rise to the school’s high expectations for their behaviour. They conduct themselves well. Children in the early years follow established routines and become increasingly independent and confident. Pupils have positive attitudes towards their learning and mostly attend well. Attendance is a high priority for the school. It challenges pupils’ low levels of attendance but also provides effective support for pupils and their families to reduce rates of absence.

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The school supports pupils’ personal development well. Pupils are taught how to keep themselves physically safe and mentally and emotionally well. Pupils who show kindness, passion, honesty and respect are celebrated with rewards, including trophies and cups. Pupils are encouraged to be responsible and proactive in school and the wider community. For example, some pupils are eco monitors and others are members of the school council. They engage confidently with people from the community, such as local councillors, and report back to pupils on a range of issues and events. Pupils enthusiastically participate in community events at local care homes, such as coffee mornings and celebrations.

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The school is well led and managed. Governors understand their roles and carry these out effectively. They provide appropriate support and challenge to the school so that the quality of education continues to improve. The school has taken effective steps to reduce staff’s workload that enables them to prioritise their teaching. It also successfully engages with parents and carers to provide a wealth of help and support where this is most needed. Parents strongly value this support. They told inspectors that the school is at the heart of the local community.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In some subjects, and areas of learning in the early years, the school has not ensured that staff deliver the curriculum consistently well and as intended. As a result, some activity choices do not help pupils to develop and deepen their knowledge over time. The school should support staff to implement the intended curriculum consistently well. 5 and 6 December 2023

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 5 and 6 December 2023

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Date of previous inspection 6 June 2017, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school does not make use of any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation.  Inspectors met with the headteacher and other leaders of the school. They also spoke with a range of staff.  The lead inspector spoke with six governors, including the chair of the governing body. She also met with a representative of the local authority. 5 and 6 December 2023

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 Inspectors considered the responses to Ofsted Parent View, including the free- text comments. They also considered the responses to Ofsted’s online surveys for staff and pupils.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, inspectors reviewed the single central record, took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  Inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour at breaktimes, during lessons and around school. They also spoke to pupils about their experiences at school.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in early reading, mathematics, science, physical education and history. They met with subject leaders and teachers and visited a sample of lessons. Inspectors spoke with pupils about their learning in these subjects. They looked at examples of pupils’ work.

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 The lead inspector observed some pupils from Years 1 to 3 read to a familiar adult.

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Inspection team

Sally Timmons, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Ian Hardman His Majesty’s Inspector 5 and 6 December 2023

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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