An outstanding primary school in the Ribble Valley has been told it may not still be operating at the highest level following an Ofsted visit.

Inspectors made an ungraded visit to Gisburn Primary School, in Burnley Road, Gisburn, and said “the evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might not be as high” if a full inspection were carried out.

Ofsted said its next visit will be a full inspection; with the most recent full inspection in 2019 having found the school to be outstanding.

In the report, Ofsted said: “Pupils are happy at this small and welcoming school. They are well cared for.

“The school’s motto, ‘give them wings so they can fly’, is brought to life daily. Staff support pupils to become confident and responsible learners.

“Pupils enjoy learning and they are proud of the many leadership roles and responsibilities that they hold.”

The school has high expectations for academic success, and most pupils, including those with special needs, achieve well, however some have gaps in subject-specific vocabulary and knowledge.

Inspectors found children behave well in class and during breaks, and are respectful of each other.

The range of extra-curricular activities, including a running club and arts and crafts, was also praised for helping children develop or discover their talents.

The school’s focus on reading was praised, as was its emphasis on health and well-being, including online safety, and their understanding of diversity and tolerance of others.

While the curriculum as a whole was described as “ambitious and well thought out”, inspectors did notice some issues.

They said: “In a small number of subjects, some pupils have insufficient opportunities to recap and consolidate their learning.

“At times, gaps in pupils’ knowledge go unchecked. This sometimes makes it difficult for pupils to make connections between their existing knowledge and new learning.

“Added to this, from time to time, the activities that some staff choose to deliver the curriculum do not support pupils to deepen their knowledge as well as they could.

“Occasionally, this hinders how well some pupils learn, including for pupils with SEND.”

The school was told to improve in this area ahead of its next graded inspection, which will take place within the next two years.