Leesons Primary School, based in Leesons Hill, was inspected on June 24 and 25, 2025, and was judged Requires improvement for the quality of education, while behaviour, personal development, leadership, management and early years were all rated Good.
Headteacher Gordon Jamieson, who took up post recently, was credited with bringing stability and a more orderly school environment.
Inspectors reported: “Leesons Primary School has undergone a period of significant change.
“The recently appointed headteacher has brought greater stability.
“The school, supported by trust leaders, has brought in many well-considered changes.
“Most parents and carers recognise that the school is on an improving journey.”
Pupils were found to show positive attitudes to learning, follow routines clearly and enjoy their lessons.
Inspectors noted that pupils feel safe in school and benefit from raised expectations of what they can achieve, but said: “The very recent nature of this work means that pupils are not yet fully benefiting from these improvements.”
Attendance has improved and absence rates are falling, with leaders praised for their focus on punctuality and creating a welcoming environment.
The curriculum was described as broad and ambitious, with notable improvements in reading and phonics.
Inspectors said: “Recent improvements to the quality of phonics teaching are having a positive impact.
“Expectations are higher, and pupils who need extra help get effective support.”
Support for children with special educational needs and disabilities has also improved, with precise plans and adaptations now in place.
However, Ofsted found that achievement in reading, writing and maths is not yet consistently strong, saying: “Planned activities and sequences of lessons do not build effectively on pupils’ prior knowledge.”
Behaviour across the school was praised, with pupils working well together and disruption reduced in classrooms.
Enrichment opportunities, including sport, music and school council, were highlighted as strengths, helping pupils to develop confidence, leadership and respect for others.
Staff wellbeing was also noted, with inspectors reporting that leaders consider workload carefully and that staff are “extremely positive about working at the school”.
Safeguarding was judged effective.
Overall, inspectors concluded that Leesons Primary is making positive strides forward under new leadership, but that further improvements are needed to ensure pupils achieve consistently well in core subjects.
