--- title: "What Ofsted said about our school" url: "https://derwentvale.cumbria.sch.uk/statutory-information/ofsted/what-ofsted-said-about-our-school" school: "Derwent Vale Primary and Nursery School" --- # What Ofsted said about our school ### What Ofsted Says About Derwent Vale Following Ofsted’s visit on **29 April 2025**, inspectors confirmed that Derwent Vale **“has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.”** [\[Ofsted Report 2025 \| PDF\]](https://derwentvale-my.sharepoint.com/personal/dlucey_derwentvale_cumbria_sch_uk/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/Ofsted%20Report%202025.pdf) **A thriving, caring community** “Derwent Vale is a **thriving and happy school**” with “a **very strong sense of community**.” Pupils “want to achieve their best and demonstrate a **genuine love for learning**.” Relationships between adults and pupils are “**positive and caring**,” and pupils are “**very polite and welcoming**.” [\[Ofsted Report 2025 \| PDF\]](https://derwentvale-my.sharepoint.com/personal/dlucey_derwentvale_cumbria_sch_uk/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/Ofsted%20Report%202025.pdf) **Ambitious, high‑quality learning** “The school has designed an **ambitious curriculum**” that “sets **high expectations** for pupils’ achievement.” “Most pupils **achieve well across the curriculum**,” with staff “**adept at checking** that pupils understand the important concepts.” Overall, “the curriculum is **coherent and interesting**,” and pupils “use **subject-specific vocabulary effectively**.” [\[Ofsted Report 2025 \| PDF\]](https://derwentvale-my.sharepoint.com/personal/dlucey_derwentvale_cumbria_sch_uk/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/Ofsted%20Report%202025.pdf) **Excellent attitudes & behaviour** Pupils “work hard and take part in lessons **enthusiastically**.” They are “**very proud of their work**,” move around school “**calmly**,” play “**safely**,” and “disruption to learning is **extremely rare**.” [\[Ofsted Report 2025 \| PDF\]](https://derwentvale-my.sharepoint.com/personal/dlucey_derwentvale_cumbria_sch_uk/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/Ofsted%20Report%202025.pdf) **Reading, early foundations & enrichment** “The school takes every opportunity to **promote pupils’ love of reading**,” with staff “expertly” helping younger pupils choose books that interest them. In early years, children build “a **secure foundation**” for future learning, and there is “a **carefully organised programme** to enhance pupils’ interests and talents,” including “strong” opportunities in sport and beyond the local area. [\[Ofsted Report 2025 \| PDF\]](https://derwentvale-my.sharepoint.com/personal/dlucey_derwentvale_cumbria_sch_uk/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/Ofsted%20Report%202025.pdf) **Personal development, safeguarding & leadership** Pupils make “**highly positive contributions** to the life of the school and the local community” and have “a **very strong sense of right and wrong**.” “The arrangements for safeguarding are **effective**.” “Governors know the school **very well**,” and staff “feel **very proud to work at the school**.” [\[Ofsted Report 2025 \| PDF\]](https://derwentvale-my.sharepoint.com/personal/dlucey_derwentvale_cumbria_sch_uk/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/Ofsted%20Report%202025.pdf) ![Derwent Vale Primary and Nursery School](https://files.schudio.com/derwent-vale-primary-and-nursery-school/images/logo/derwent-footer-logo.png) ### Derwent Vale Primary and Nursery School Great Clifton Workington Cumbria CA14 1WA 01900 601233 ### Useful Links - [Governors](https://derwentvale.cumbria.sch.uk/about-us/governors) - [Policies](https://derwentvale.cumbria.sch.uk/statutory-information/policies) - [Term Dates](https://derwentvale.cumbria.sch.uk/parents/term-dates) - [Contact Us](https://derwentvale.cumbria.sch.uk/contact) ### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/derwentvaleprimaryschool) ### Translation © Copyright 2025–2026 Derwent Vale Primary and Nursery School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://derwentvale.cumbria.sch.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)