Flakefleet Primary School continues to be a good school.
Our most recent Ofsted inspection took place on 1 and 2 May 2024. This was an ungraded inspection, carried out under Section 8 of the Education Act 2005, to confirm whether the school continued to provide a good standard of education.
The inspection confirmed that Flakefleet Primary School continues to be a good school.
What Ofsted said about Flakefleet
Ofsted described Flakefleet as a “very special school” where pupils flourish because of the loving support they receive from staff who know them exceptionally well.
Inspectors recognised the important role the school plays within its community and highlighted the care and attention given not only to pupils but also to their families.
The report found that:
- Pupils are happy and enjoy coming to school
- Pupils behave well and treat each other and staff with kindness and respect
- Staff know pupils exceptionally well and identify barriers to learning and wellbeing carefully
- Pupils develop well socially and emotionally
- Pupils gain a strong understanding of fundamental British values and respect differences
- Pupils benefit from a wide range of clubs, visits and experiences
- Pupils develop confidence and responsibility through roles such as digital leaders, buddies and house ambassadors
- Pupils with SEND are identified quickly and supported well
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective
- Attendance is monitored closely, with the school working with families to reduce absence
- The curriculum has been substantially improved and is ambitious and logically sequenced
- Staff are supported effectively through training and careful consideration of workload and wellbeing.
Ofsted also recognised the school’s extensive pastoral and wellbeing provision, including the way the school works with families and the wider community. The Strive Café was highlighted as an important community hub, helping families to access services and support.
Our Curriculum and Pupil Achievement
The inspection recognised the significant work undertaken by the school to strengthen the curriculum.
Leaders have overhauled subject curriculums so that they are ambitious and carefully ordered, helping pupils to build their knowledge over time. Inspectors found that current pupils benefit from the improvements that have been made.
Ofsted noted that the published 2023 assessment data did not reflect the quality of education that current pupils were receiving. The report identified a number of factors that had affected those outcomes, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, weaknesses in the previous curriculum and high levels of pupil absence.
The inspection also identified areas where the school needed to continue its work, particularly around assessment, closing gaps in phonics and strengthening spelling, handwriting and grammar.
These areas form an important part of our ongoing school improvement work.
What We Are Continuing to Improve
As a school, we welcome inspection findings as an opportunity to reflect, improve and ensure that every pupil receives the best possible education.
Ofsted identified three key areas for further development:
Assessment
Teachers’ checks at the beginning and end of units need to be used consistently to identify gaps in knowledge and ensure that pupils remember and build on what they have learned.
Reading and phonics
The school needs to continue refining its approach to helping pupils who fall behind in phonics, ensuring that they make strong progress while also accessing the wider curriculum.
Spelling, handwriting and grammar
Greater attention is needed to these fundamental skills, particularly in the early years and Key Stage 1, so that pupils are well prepared for success in Key Stage 2.
We continue to work on these areas as part of our commitment to securing the very best outcomes for our pupils.
Looking Beyond the Data
At Flakefleet, we believe that success is about more than a set of numbers.
We want our children to achieve academically, but we also want them to develop confidence, resilience, independence, kindness and a genuine enthusiasm for learning.
Our aim is for every child to dare to dream — to recognise their own strengths, overcome barriers and believe that they can achieve great things.
The 2024 Ofsted report recognised the positive culture that exists across our school and the impact of our work to support the whole child.
Performance Information
National performance information is published by the Department for Education and allows parents and carers to compare schools using a range of measures.
Performance data should always be considered alongside the wider picture of a school, including its context, curriculum, pupil population and the progress being made by current pupils.
You can view the school’s latest published performance information through the Department for Education’s school performance service.
Ofsted Reports
You can read the full inspection report and view previous inspection reports through Ofsted.
Most recent inspection: 1–2 May 2024
Outcome: Good
Previous graded inspection: 10–11 July 2018
Fleetwood Flakefleet Primary School
Ofsted Parent View
Parents and carers can also share their views about Flakefleet Primary School through Ofsted Parent View.
We value the views of our families and use feedback to help us reflect on what we do well and where we can continue to improve.
Our Commitment
We are proud that Flakefleet continues to be judged a good school, and we are equally committed to never standing still.
Our focus remains on providing a safe, nurturing and ambitious environment where every child is known, valued and supported to achieve.
Belong. Believe. Succeed. Dare to Dream.