Our 2026 Ofsted Inspection
Proud of Ashton
Ashton Primary School was inspected by Ofsted on 21 April 2026, with the final report published in June 2026.
We were incredibly proud that inspectors recognised so many of the things that make Ashton a special place for our children and families.
The inspection highlighted the positive relationships between pupils and staff, our inclusive approach, the strength of our personal development provision, improvements being made by school leaders and the wide range of experiences available to our children.
Perhaps most importantly, inspectors found that:
“Pupils love their school, and they enjoy learning.”
That is something of which we are enormously proud.
A school where children belong
Ofsted recognised the strong sense of community that exists at Ashton.
Inspectors found that pupils have a strong sense of belonging and feel included in all aspects of school life. They recognised the trusting relationships children develop with staff, which help pupils to feel safe.
The report also highlighted that pupils get along well with one another, have positive attitudes towards their learning and respond positively to the high expectations we set for behaviour.
Inspectors found that Ashton is a calm school where pupils feel respected and that disruption to learning is rare.
They also recognised that bullying is rare and that, when problems do occur, staff respond promptly.
Safeguarding our children
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted recognised that leaders and governors fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities and that Ashton has established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
Inspectors found that concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, helping our pupils to be and feel safe.
This reflects our commitment to ensuring that every child at Ashton feels safe, listened to, valued and cared for.
An inclusive school
Inclusion is central to everything we do at Ashton, and we were particularly pleased that this was recognised throughout the inspection.
Ofsted found that we have appropriate processes for identifying and supporting children who experience barriers to their learning or wellbeing, beginning from the moment children enter our Early Years.
Inspectors recognised that staff receive appropriate training to meet pupils' individual needs and ensure that everyone feels valued and included.
They also highlighted the individualised approaches used to support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), alongside the nurturing support provided for children with social, emotional and mental health needs or social care involvement.
Importantly, inspectors recognised that leaders carefully evaluate the impact of support and adapt approaches when needed.
The report also highlighted how parents' views and advice from other professionals contribute to the training and support we provide.
A strong start in Early Years
We were delighted with Ofsted's recognition of the improvements and ambition within our Early Years provision.
Inspectors found that leaders have established an ambitious Early Years curriculum which is making a difference to children's achievement.
They recognised the purposeful interactions between adults and children and our focus on developing children's vocabulary and language.
Reading was identified as a priority, with children enthusiastically applying their phonics knowledge and reading with increasing accuracy.
Ofsted also highlighted the broad range of interesting and engaging activities available throughout our Early Years environment and our strong focus on developing children's curiosity.
The report recognised that children are becoming increasingly well prepared for Year 1.
Our relationships with families were also celebrated, with inspectors highlighting opportunities such as phonics workshops and our ‘Come and See’ sessions, where parents and carers are invited into school to learn alongside their children.
Personal development at Ashton
We are especially proud of Ofsted's findings about our Personal Development provision.
Inspectors recognised that our programme provides a wide range of opportunities that help pupils become responsible and positive members of our school community.
Children develop a secure understanding of different faiths and cultures, alongside a well-developed sense of right and wrong.
Ofsted highlighted our work around fundamental British Values, democracy and opportunities for children to explore topical issues, listen to different opinions and develop their own views.
Inspectors also recognised that our pupils understand the importance of equality and how celebrating each other's uniqueness enriches their lives.
This reflects our commitment to our PROUD values and to developing confident, respectful and responsible citizens.
Preparing children for life
Our PSHE and wider Personal Development provision was also recognised for helping children develop the knowledge they need for life beyond the classroom.
Inspectors found that children learn about healthy relationships, friendship, peer pressure and moral dilemmas.
They recognised that pupils learn about important concepts such as consent and managing risk, including risks they may encounter online.
This is an important part of our commitment to ensuring that children leave Ashton with the knowledge, confidence and resilience they need for the next stage of their lives.
Opportunities to discover talents and interests
Ofsted recognised the wide range of opportunities available to children both within and beyond our curriculum.
Inspectors highlighted the wealth of experiences that allow children to develop their talents and interests, including sport, music and dance.
They also recognised the trips, clubs and enrichment opportunities provided by school and our commitment to ensuring that disadvantaged pupils are able to access experiences they might not otherwise have.
Leaders monitor participation so that children can access opportunities which reflect their interests, aspirations and ambitions.
Our pupils also learn about the heritage and culture of their local area through visits, events and experiences which complement their classroom learning.
Making a difference in our community
We want our children to understand that they can make a positive contribution to the world around them.
Ofsted recognised the opportunities our pupils have to improve their local community, including charitable activities and projects undertaken by different year groups.
This commitment to community, citizenship and helping others is an important part of life at Ashton and supports our ambition to develop children who are proud of themselves, their school and the community in which they live.
Leadership and positive change
The inspection also recognised the positive changes taking place at Ashton.
Ofsted found that the current leadership team has a secure understanding of what needs to be done and is tackling historical curriculum issues directly.
Inspectors recognised that leaders had already made a demonstrable difference to areas of the curriculum and to Early Years provision.
They also highlighted the higher expectations established for pupils' behaviour and the support and training being provided to develop staff expertise.
The report recognised that improvements in English and mathematics were already having a positive impact, including improvements in the teaching of reading, vocabulary, spelling and basic number.
Most importantly, Ofsted stated that:
“All decisions made by leaders are in the best interests of pupils.”
We are immensely proud of this recognition.
Working together with our families and staff
Our school community is at the heart of Ashton.
Ofsted recognised that parents and carers are happy with the way leaders engage with them and help them to support their children's learning at home.
Inspectors also found that staff appreciate the way leaders have managed change and the consideration given to staff workload and wellbeing.
We believe that strong relationships between children, families and staff are essential to helping every child thrive.
Continuing our journey
We are proud of everything recognised within our 2026 Ofsted inspection, while remaining ambitious about what comes next.
The report recognised that recent curriculum improvements are already enabling pupils to make greater gains in their learning, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics.
Ofsted also identified areas where we need to continue improving, particularly ensuring that our developing curriculum enables pupils to build secure knowledge over time and that assessment consistently identifies and addresses gaps in learning.
These priorities were already central to the work of our leadership team, and we will continue to build on the progress recognised by inspectors.
Our ambition is simple: to provide every child at Ashton with the very best education, opportunities and experiences possible.
We are proud of our children.
We are proud of our staff.
We are proud of our families.
And we are incredibly PROUD of Ashton.
Follow the link to read our full report: Ashton Primary School - Open - Find an Inspection Report - Ofsted