A small village school on the Lizard peninsula has been praised for making ‘significant progress’ in pupils' education, despite being downgraded from its previous Ofsted inspection.

Manaccan Primary School has recently received a ‘requires improvement’ following its visit from inspectors in June, after being graded ‘good’ in April 2023.

In the report, inspectors have praised the school for its ‘warm and welcoming’ environment, where pupils are said to get along well and learn harmoniously.

It also said that the relationships between staff and pupils are ‘warm, and encouraging’, a sentiment which was echoed by parents.

Respect for one another, beginning in the early years was also highlighted in the report.

As well as this, the report also praises Manaccan for the ‘significant progress in improving pupils learning’ since the school joined the Aspire Academy Trust as well as the school’s early years provision which is showing ‘signs of improvement’ with a focus on developing children’s phonics skills and creating a stimulating learning environment.

However, improvements are required on the school’s curriculum, which inspectors state, ‘lacks coherence’, with some subjects being ‘less well-developed than others’ leading to inconsistent learning experiences for pupils. Inspectors said that both the school and trust are “urged to develop a more cohesive and sequenced curriculum.”

The report also states that the school needs to ‘identify’ and ‘implement’ clear teaching strategies. The trust is being encouraged to invest in ‘professional development’ for staff, focusing on pedagogy and effective assessment techniques.

It said that the school should provide more opportunities for pupils to ‘develop their character’, and take on responsibilities, and contribute to school and community life. However, pupils were said to enjoy experiences such as sailing, museum trips and clubs which help enrich the curriculum.

Moving forward, Ofsted inspectors suggest that the ‘requires improvement’ rating is an opportunity for the school to address the ‘identified weaknesses’ and build upon its strengths.

The report also states that although teaching is strengthened through high-quality professional development, and has helped pupils learn stronger in some subjects, some pupils with SEND do not learn as well as they could. This is because teachers do not always adapt the curriculum closely enough to build on what they already know.

The report acknowledges the commitment of Aspire Academy Trust, led by Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Bragg and chaired by Penny Shilston, to supporting the school's improvement. The trust has demonstrated a significant investment in the school's resources and capacity.

It also acknowledges that the school, under the leadership of headteacher Lisa Woodhouse, is ‘determined to address the challenges and ensure, that all pupils receive high-quality education.’

However, inspectors noted that arrangements for the new academic year promise ‘greater stability’ with staff feeling more invested since joining the trust. 

The full report can be found on the Ofsted website, URN 50253261.