Penwortham Primary School says its new Ofsted report is 'an opportunity to build on their strengths'

A primary school in Penwortham has said it is celebrating the many strengths recognised in its recent Ofsted inspection, which was published last month.

Penwortham Primary School on Crookings Lane was inspected by the educational watchdog on May 6 2026.

This was the school’s first inspection under the new Ofsted framework which you can read more about here but it in summary means schools are judged using a five tiered traffic light system now instead.

Before this inspection, Penwortham Primary School, currently home to 205 pupils, had been considered a ‘good’ school since online records began in 2000.

How was Penwortham Primary School graded this time around?

Four categories at the school was given the third highest rating that can be given, whilst the other three were deemed to be of the standard below that.

The Ofsted report grades are:

• Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard (light green)
• Early years: Expected standard (light green)
• Leadership and governance: Expected standard (light green)
• Personal development and wellbeing: Expected standard (light green)
• Achievement: Needs attention (orange)
• Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention (orange)
• Inclusion*: Needs attention (orange)

*Inclusion is a new category

What did Ofsted say was particularly good about Penwortham Primary School?

Describing what it is like to be a pupil at the school, inspectors wrote that “pupils feel safe and happy”, with leaders “prioritis[ing] pupils’ emotional wellbeing”, providing “trips and visitors that enrich their learning” and also opportunities “to develop their skills and interests”.

Regarding ‘attendance and behaviour’, Ofsted applauded how leaders’ focus on improving rates of attendance has made a clear impact, whilst most pupils behave well during lessons and at breaktimes, typically displaying “positive attitudes to learning”.

In the early years, their curriculum has been “successfully developed” since the last inspection, with leaders having a “secure oversight” of its delivery and children mostly achieving well.

In the wider school, special mention is made to the focus placed on reading, with the “effective” phonics programme ensuring that pupils “typically develop secure reading knowledge”.

Leaders are then said to “at all levels have a clear understanding of the strengths of the school” and they “welcome all pupils at the school, no matter what difficulties they face”

Additional praise is given to the school’s “effective” personal development programme, with pupils learning “useful information” about themselves, fundamental British values, and how “to make life more pleasant for everyone.”

Inspectors added that most pupils demostrate the school’s values of 'aspire, belong, care, discover' “in the positive way that they embrace each aspect of the school day”.

What does Penwortham Primary School need to improve?

In the ‘next steps’ part of the report, inspectors highlighted four specific things for the school to focus on - all related to the three categories they were told need attention: achievement, curriculum and teaching, and inclusion.

First, teachers need to identify and address gaps in pupils’ knowledge “so that they are fully prepared for their next stages of education” and secondly, leaders should ensure “all pupils achieve the highest standards that they are capable of across the curriculum”.

Inspectors added that the latter point was “particularly important for disadvantaged pupils and for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities” which leads on to the third point, that pupils’ additional needs need to be “identified accurately and in a timely fashion so that teachers know how best to help them”.

Finally, leaders were told to make sure that their checks on the curriculum’s effectiveness and the support for pupils “are rigorous” and that they make it clear what improvements need to be made.

What did Penwortham Primary School say about it’s new report?

Headteacher Kate Penarski said: "We are incredibly proud of our pupils and our whole school community. One of the most important messages from the report is that inspectors recognised our children feel happy, safe and well cared for. The report also highlights our relentless focus on pupils' emotional wellbeing, the positive relationships children build with caring staff and the wider opportunities we provide to help them develop and thrive.

“We know there is always more to do, and we welcome the report as an opportunity to build on these strengths so that every child achieves their very best. We are proud of what we have achieved together and remain committed to providing the very best education and opportunities for every child at Penwortham Primary School."

The school added that it views the inspection as “a valuable opportunity to continue its improvement journey”, elaborating: “Leaders have already prioritised further strengthening outcomes for all pupils, while continuing to build on the caring and nurturing environment recognised by inspectors.

“Penwortham Primary School remains committed to ensuring every child is supported to flourish, both personally and academically, as the school continues to build on its many strengths.”