Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils flourish at this exceptional school.

This is driven by the high levels of ambition the school has for pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school helps pupils face challenges, build resilience and become self-confident. Pupils embody these qualities through their approach to learning.

Many of them, including pupils with SEND, achieve extremely well across the curriculum.

The school has incredibly high expectations of pupils' behaviour. Adults are positive role models who inspire pupils to make the right choices.

Pupils demonstrate excellent attitudes to learning from the start of their time in ...Reception. Across the school, behaviour is impeccable and learning is rarely interrupted. Pupils are caring, considerate and show great empathy towards others.

The school is active in helping others in the local community. Pupils play a pivotal role in this. For example, pupils visit residents of a local care home and welcome them into school for events such as the school nativity play.

This helps pupils to understand friendship and compassion towards others.

Pupils thrive through the strong relationships they have with staff. They trust that staff will help them with any concerns or worries.

This helps pupils to feel happy and safe in school.

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

The school has designed a highly ambitious curriculum that enables pupils, including those with SEND, to be extremely successful. The school works hard to ensure that the curriculum evolves and responds to the changing needs of the pupils.

From the moment that children join the Reception Year, they benefit from an aspirational and a meticulously designed curriculum.

Within the school, a number of teachers are specialists in their subjects. This expertise ensures that staff receive high-quality training.

This enables staff to teach the curriculum with considerable skill. Teachers promptly identify and address any gaps in pupils' knowledge. They design highly effective activities that connect learning and deepen pupils' knowledge across many subjects.

Effective systems identify the needs of pupils with SEND. The school supports pupils with SEND to fully access the curriculum. By the end of Year 6, pupils, including those with SEND, have an exceptional level of knowledge that stands them in great stead for secondary school.

Children in the Reception Year and pupils across key stage 1 get off to a flying start with reading. Expert staff deliver the phonics programme with great skill. Pupils quickly learn sounds and the letters they represent.

Staff provide direct support for those pupils who need it. This ensures that these pupils keep up with their peers. Parents and carers appreciate the resources and workshops that the school provides to help them support their children's phonics learning at home.

Pupils read books that are well matched to their knowledge. Many pupils are fluent readers by the end of Year 2. This ensures they experience success when reading across the curriculum and benefit from the pleasure that comes from reading a good book.

Children in the early years follow established routines quickly. They learn cooperatively alongside one another. Older pupils are excellent role models for their younger peers.

The school is a calm and purposeful place, where pupils are immersed in their learning. There are very effective systems and processes in place that ensure pupils attend school regularly. This means that pupils benefit greatly from the outstanding quality of education that the school provides.

The school offers an exemplary range of opportunities that enhance pupils' personal development. The school ensures that disadvantaged pupils benefit from the extensive range of clubs that it provides. These include archery, creative writing and baking.

Pupils have a depth of understanding around healthy relationships. They know how to keep themselves safe online. Pupils engage in a range of activities that bring the fundamental British values to life, such as democracy week.

Governors are highly effective in checking how well the school operates at all levels. They have an unrelenting focus on the quality of education and a journey of continuous improvement. They make a tangible contribution to giving pupils the best possible start.

Staff have a high regard for the priority the school places on their well-being and training. This provides them with the confidence to adopt teaching approaches that get the very best from pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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