A Rossendale primary school has “worked in areas that were identified as needing improvement”, but Ofsted still has said it still needs further work.

Ofsted no longer gives overall judgements to state-funded schools, but Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School was rated as requiring improvement in four out of five judgement areas following an inspection.

The area of personal development saw its rating rise to ‘good’, but the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management and early years provision all remained ‘requires improvement.’

Following their visit to the Linden Lea school, inspectors said: “The school has high aspirations for all pupils. Caring staff are developing their expertise in providing additional support for pupils who need it.

“Pupils benefit from the school’s focus on their wider development. Children in the early years develop confidence and independence.

“At break times, most pupils are keen to access the outdoor space, where they take part in a range of physical activities. Pupils are polite and respectful as they move around the school. 

“During lesson time, pupils’ behaviour is more variable. At times, the school does not ensure that pupils maintain the highest standards of behaviour. It does not support pupils who struggle to manage their emotions consistently well.”

However, incidents of pupils’ poor behaviour during learning time or break times were considered to be less frequent.

Additionally, rates of attendance had improved and other developments at the school were helping pupils to benefit more from the school’s new and ambitious curriculum.

Pupil achievement was improving slowly but some children struggled due to gaps in their knowledge, including in reading.

The report continued: “The school is firmly focused on increasing pupils’ achievement.

"However, unavoidable staffing changes have continued to thwart the implementation of some of its plans.

“High rates of pupil absence in recent years have impacted on pupils’ ability to learn and recall key knowledge.

"Pupils’ achievement remains stubbornly low in some subjects, including in English and mathematics.”

Inspectors raised that a new curriculum was still being embedded at the time of their visit, and teachers in Years 1 to 6 knew what to focus on in each subject and the order learning should occur in.

Work on reading was also commended and the phonics programme was considered to be delivered well as the school had ensured that staff were well trained and supported.

However, the delivery of several aspects of the curriculum was considered to be not as effective as it should be, including in reading, writing and mathematics.

This was due to gaps in pupils’ knowledge not always being identified and addressed.

Inspectors added: “The school’s strategies for managing behaviour successfully are mostly followed. However, in some classes, intervention is not quick enough when pupils begin to lose their focus.

“Moreover, the school does not ensure that some children in the early years develop their ability quickly enough to focus on learning or follow adults’ instructions.”

Rawtenstall Balladen was said to provide efficient help and support for teachers to help them identify accurately the varying additional needs of pupils with special educational needs.

Whilst this work is ongoing, it is not fully embedded yet and the achievement of pupils with special educational needs is variable as a result.

Inspectors concluded: “Pupils’ personal development is a high priority for the school. Pupils appreciate the opportunities that the school provides to participate in sporting activities. They especially enjoy competing against other schools.

“Pupils know that being physically active contributes to their mental well-being and ability to focus during lessons. They also learn about ‘stranger danger’, including when online.”

The arrangements for safeguarding were considered to be effective.