Blacko Primary School praised by Ofsted

Blacko Primary School has been praised by Ofsted for its high standards of behaviour, strong community spirit and inclusive approach to education.

Following an inspection in September, the school was judged to meet the strong standard in four key areas: attendance and behaviour, early years, inclusion, and leadership and governance.

It also met the expected standard in achievement, curriculum and teaching, and personal development and wellbeing, while safeguarding requirements were confirmed as met.

The report highlighted the positive relationships between pupils and staff, describing a welcoming and nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued and encouraged to achieve their potential.

Pupils told inspectors that their school was “small but mighty”, reflecting the strong sense of belonging which inspectors found to be central to life at Blacko.

Behaviour and attendance were particular strengths, with pupils demonstrating positive attitudes to learning and showing kindness and respect towards others.

Attendance is consistently above the national average, which the report linked to the positive relationships between the school, families and pupils.

Inspectors also praised the school's early years provision, highlighting its carefully planned curriculum and enthusiastic staff who encourage curiosity and a love of learning.

Children benefit from an environment designed to develop their confidence, independence and communication skills, with the report concluding: “Children are extremely well prepared for key stage 1.”

Academic achievement was another positive feature, with pupils performing above national averages in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6.

The report also recognised the school's commitment to inclusion, with staff working to understand individual needs and remove barriers to learning through adapted teaching, additional support and pastoral care.

Leadership and governance were praised for their shared ambition and commitment to improvement, with inspectors highlighting clear priorities and opportunities for staff development.

The report stated: “A positive culture permeates through all aspects of school life.”

Headteacher Kate Richards said: “We are absolutely delighted that Ofsted has recognised what makes Blacko such a special school.

“To hear our children describe their school as ‘small but mighty’ perfectly captures the pride, ambition and sense of belonging that runs through our whole school community.

“This report is a wonderful recognition of the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm and achievements of our children, and the fantastic support we receive from our families and Apex Collaborative Trust.

“We are particularly proud that inspectors recognised the strength of our relationships, our inclusive culture and the high expectations we have for every child.”

John Tarbox, chief executive of Apex Collaborative Trust, said he was pleased Ofsted had recognised the standards at Blacko and the work of Mrs Richards and her team.

He added that the whole community could be proud of the care provided at the school, with leaders continuing to work towards further improvements.

The school is now looking ahead to the opening of a new pre-school in January 2027, extending its early years provision to younger children.

Staff also plan to continue developing teaching, assessment and early writing skills as the school builds on the strengths identified during the inspection.