Hellifield Primary School praised by Ofsted inspectors

Hellifield Primary School, on Kendal Road, Hellifield, continues to make significant improvements and is providing a good education for all its pupils, Ofsted inspectors have concluded.

The village primary school was inspected in September and recently received its judgement from the education standards body.

Schools no longer receive an overall judgement from inspectors, but across the board in the following areas the school was judged good: The quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision.

Hellifield headteacher Catherine Maddocks spoke of her pride at the inspection report which she says is testament to the entire school family.

Mrs Maddocks says the latest report shows the “rapid and swift improvements” which have been made at the school since the last inspection in January 2023.

Mrs Maddcoks said: “I am so proud of the entire school family and their hard work and commitment which has earned us this glowing report from Ofsted.

"We have been on an incredible school improvement journey in recent years and I want to build on this success in the coming years.”

“I’d like to thank our staff and pupils for the part they have played alongside parents, our governing board, and local authority advisors. It’s truly been a team effort to get us where we are today.”

Hellifield Primary School is part of the Ribblesdale Federation of Schools which also includes Giggleswick Primary and Long Preston Endowed (VA) primary schools.

Mrs Maddocks arrived as Interim Executive Headteacher at the Federation in January 2023. She became Executive Headteacher at the school in September 2023.

The latest Ofsted report concluded that pupils were “happy to attend this welcoming school”.

Pupils felt “part of a close family and are proud to wear the Hellifield uniform.”

As well as praising the “rapid and sustained improvements” since the last Ofsted visit, inspectors singled out the school’s “broad and ambitious curriculum”.

Pupils “worked diligently and behave well in lessons”, the inspectors said.

Safeguarding, support for pupils with Special Educational Needs, teacher subject knowledge, reading, phonics and the Early Years curriculum were also singled out for praise.

Ofsted inspectors also highlighted two areas where the school needed to improve.

Inspectors said: "Older pupils do not get sufficient practice to develop their writing skills. Some pupils do not achieve in writing as well as in other subjects."

They also noted: "Pupils are not as well prepared for life in modern Britain as they could be. The curriculum does not provide enough opportunities for pupils to develop a depth of understanding of the faiths and cultures that make up modern Britain."