A LAKE District primary school ‘requires significant improvement’, with some pupils unable ‘to write clearly or work confidently with numbers’, it can be revealed.
These are the findings of Ofsted inspectors after their inspection of Langdale CofE Primary School, of Chapel Stile, Great Langdale.
The report into the primary school from March said the school ‘requires significant improvement’ due to it ‘performing significantly less well than it might in all the circumstances’ it is reasonably expected to perform.
Ofsted looks at seven educational areas on an inspection: inclusion, personal development and wellbeing, achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, early years, and leadership and governance.
Out of these seven, Langdale CofE Primary School, which has a total of 33 pupils, only met the ‘expected standard’ in two areas: inclusion and personal development and wellbeing.
It had four educational areas in the ‘needs attention’ grading band: achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, and early years.
Whilst inspectors stated leadership and governance needed ‘urgent improvement’.
Inspectors wrote that the school’s governors had ‘overseen a decline in the quality of education offered by the school’ and that ‘leaders and governors do not have the capacity to bring about the improvements to many aspects of the school’s provision.’
On what life is like as a pupil at the school, the report reads: “Some pupils are not able to write clearly or work confidently with numbers.
“They often struggle to remember what they have learned previously. If they do recall this knowledge, they find it difficult to use it when faced with new learning.
“In the early years, children learn to read but do not build all of the knowledge that they need across their other areas of learning. Some children are not ready for Year 1.”
However, inspectors stated that despite the issues highlighted, ‘pupils arrive at school each morning happy and eager to learn.’
Additionally, the school met safeguarding standards and pupils ‘feel safe’.
Inspectors gave the school five ‘next steps’ to help the institution move forward.
These included telling school bosses to ensure teaching staff ‘design activities that help pupils to connect new knowledge to what they have learned previously’, and ‘rectify the gaps and errors in pupils’ handwriting, spelling, grammar and number knowledge.’
Langdale CofE Primary School was contacted for comment on the report’s findings.
In response, Rachel Underwood, the school’s headteacher, who, it is understood, is leaving her position at the end of the summer term, issued a statement.
Ms Underwood said: “We acknowledge and accept the judgments from our recent inspection and are grateful for the clear and constructive feedback provided.
“I am proud the report highlights that our pupils are happy, safe and well prepared for modern life. I would like to thank our dedicated staff for their ongoing commitment.
“Under the leadership of our newly appointed Chair of Governors since September, we are already benefitting from fresh direction and renewed energy, with many improvements across the school already underway.
“As evidenced by the report, we have high expectations for all pupils, and we are determined to build on our strengths and address the areas identified for improvement to ensure we consistently deliver the high standards they deserve.”
This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation’s Editors’ Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here
© 2001-2026. The News and Star is owned and operated by Newsquest Media Group Ltd, an audited local newspaper network.
Visit newsquest.co.uk to view our policies, terms and legal agreements.
The Echo Building, 18 Albert Road, Bournemouth, England BH1 1BZ. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637
Data returned from the Piano ‘meterActive/meterExpired’ callback event.
As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles.
Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services.
These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community.
It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.