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Schools & FE · School inspection (EIF)

Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School

Inspected 5 Mar 2025 · published 2 May 2025 · URN 119257

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Original PDF ↗

Summary

No overall grade in this framework

Jen Sloan (lead), Debbie Withey, Karen Morris

What we read, and from where

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  • Inspection date verified

    5 Mar 2025

  • Inspectors verified

    Debbie Withey, Jen Sloan, Karen Morris

  • Behaviour and attitudes verified

    Outstanding

  • Early years verified

    Outstanding

  • Leadership and management verified

    Outstanding

  • Personal development verified

    Outstanding

  • Quality of education verified

    Outstanding

  • Postcode verified

    BB12 0BN

  • Name on report verified

    Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School

  • URN verified

    119257

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Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2015.

  • Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
  • Early yearsOutstanding
  • Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Personal developmentOutstanding
  • Quality of educationOutstanding

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+87Very positivemore positive than 93% of reports of this type
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

Reads more warmly than most reports of this type.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praiseexceptionalexcellentinspirationalflourishsuperbhighly effectiveexceptionallyoutstanding
Criticismgapslimited

How the report reads, start to finish

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FindingsSafeguardingAbout the inspection positive critical
  • Findings852w+86
  • Safeguarding161w+33

Strengths

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Concerns

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No strong criticism found.

Next steps

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No next steps set out.

What the report dwells on

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Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
7
Words of findings
989
about usual (typical 1153)
Reading level
Fairly hard
Flesch 53, typical 55
Average sentence
13 words
Next steps
0
typical 4
Hedged sentences
3%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 53%Safeguarding 10%About the inspection 37%

Full report text

Inspection of Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School Oswald Street, Burnley, Lancashire BB12 0BN

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The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years provision Outstanding Previous inspection grade Outstanding

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Until November 2020, the school was exempt from routine inspection because it was judged as outstanding for overall effectiveness at its previous inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The school has not been inspected under section 5 of the Act since June 2015. Since September 2024, schools have not been awarded an overall effectiveness grade. 4 and 5 March 2025

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What is it like to attend this school?

This is an exceptional school. The school has a number of values that inform its work, including providing pupils with a ‘magical and awe-inspiring childhood’. This is realised through the impressive curriculum that pupils learn. From the early years, children receive an excellent start to their education. Pupils flourish throughout the school. By the time that they leave the school, pupils achieve an incredible depth of knowledge across the curriculum. Pupils are happy and excited by their learning. They find it utterly irresistible.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school enhances pupils’ learning through an inspirational enrichment programme. Every pupil participates. For instance, pupils learn advanced computing, hone their physical education skills, compose music and learn dance routines. These additional opportunities extend beyond the national curriculum and significantly deepen and broaden pupils’ knowledge.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils behave exceptionally well. Older pupils often support younger pupils. Pupils use the wide range of leadership opportunities provided to act as excellent role models for others. The foundations for pupils’ exceptional attitudes to learning are set in the early years. From this time on, pupils defend each other’s right to learn through their superb conduct. Pupils behave consistently well, whether adults are present or not. Pupils love being in school.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils learn a very ambitious curriculum. Many children start school without the language skills and knowledge that they need. Teachers quickly check and address these gaps. By the time pupils leave the school, they are more than ready for the next stage of their education. While published outcomes are broadly average, the progress that pupils make from their starting points is exceptional.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Teachers routinely check that pupils remember what they have learned. Across the curriculum, pupils eagerly share what they know. In computing, pupils explain the difference between infinite loops and timed loops. In art and design, they explain the precise techniques needed to make different prints. Pupils’ work is of an exceptional quality.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school identifies the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) quickly and precisely. Teachers make sure that pupils with SEND practise applying what they have learned. This helps pupils with SEND to master the important knowledge and skills of the subjects they study. Pupils with SEND flourish with this support.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils routinely connect their new learning to the things that they already know. In mathematics, pupils use their fluent knowledge of times tables to calculate fractions and decimals. In the early years, children rapidly master the knowledge that they need for future learning. They quickly learn to spot different mathematical amounts and shapes. When pupils leave Reception, they have the knowledge that they need for Year 1 and beyond. 4 and 5 March 2025

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In the early years, staff help children to use a wide vocabulary. Children in the early years develop a secure knowledge of phonics. They rapidly become fluent readers. If pupils have limited language, or are new to English, the school makes sure that they acquire speaking skills in an order that is right for them. Any gaps that children have are quickly addressed by teachers. Older pupils receive an exceptional reading curriculum. They read widely and often. Staff share well-chosen literature with pupils daily. They bring stories to life for pupils. This inspires pupils to read with expression and joy.

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Pupils’ personal development is a golden thread that runs throughout the school. Pupils develop an impressive understanding of healthy relationships and the importance of consent. Pupils accept their differences and treat everyone in school with the utmost respect. This reflects pupils’ consistent and exceptional behaviour. The school provides many opportunities for pupils to develop their sense of citizenship. Some pupils are elected to be ‘prime minister’ and ‘secretaries of state’. They use these roles to create action plans that improve their school. The experiences that the school provides significantly enrich pupils’ education. For example, some pupils grow plants in the school’s ‘Eden project’, while others create information videos using the school’s green screen. Pupils find these experiences inspirational. They leave school as well-rounded individuals with deep knowledge across a range of areas.

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Those responsible for governance use their experience to challenge and support leaders. Governors check that the school is taking the right actions in the best interests of pupils. The school provides highly effective support and professional development for staff at all levels. Leaders carefully consider the workload of staff and support them well. Staff are very proud to work at this school. One member of staff summed up the views of others, saying, ‘I have found my forever school.’

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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How can I feed back my views?

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 4 and 5 March 2025

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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). 4 and 5 March 2025

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 17 and 18 June 2015, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school does not currently use any alternative provision.  The school runs an enrichment programme for pupils in the school.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. During a graded inspection, we grade the school for each of our key judgements (quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; and leadership and management) and for any relevant provision judgement (early years and/or sixth form provision). Schools receiving a graded inspection from September 2024 will not be given an overall effectiveness grade.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  Inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school. 4 and 5 March 2025

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 Inspectors met with senior leaders, subject leaders and teachers.  The lead inspector held a meeting with the governing body, including the vice chair of governors. The lead inspector also held a meeting with a representative of the local authority.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: reading, mathematics, history, computing and physical education. For each deep dive, inspectors discussed the curriculum with subject leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. The lead inspector also listened to a sample of pupils reading to a familiar adult.  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.

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 Inspectors scrutinised a range of other documentation, including governor meeting minutes and leaders’ evaluation of the school.  Inspectors also spoke informally to pupils to gather their views on school life.  To gather the views of parents and carers, inspectors took account of the responses from Ofsted Parent View, including the free-text comments. Inspectors also met with parents at the start of the school day.  Inspectors took account of the staff survey and met formally with staff to gather their views.

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Inspection team

Jen Sloan, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Karen Morris Ofsted Inspector 4 and 5 March 2025

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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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If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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