Lowerplace Primary School ‘requires improvement’ after Ofsted inspection

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Lowerplace Primary School

Lowerplace Primary School ‘requires improvement’, the latest Ofsted inspection has found following a full inspection with HMI and Ofsted.

Previously, the school’s rating was “Outstanding”, the last inspection having taken place in 2009.

Inspectors found ‘the quality of teaching, learning and assessment over time varied too much across classes and subjects. Some activities are unimaginative and pupils do not excel in their learning’.

They discovered pupils had gaps in their knowledge and skills and reviews of support for special educational needs or disabled pupils weren’t detailed enough, resulting in pupils struggling with their learning because their needs are not met well.

Activities for the reception class ‘lack challenge’ and assessments of children are not always ‘comprehensive enough’ to help staff in their teaching.

In addition, the school’s website failed to meet requirements.

The report outlines serious shortcomings emerged in 2016 in the quality of assessment in the school. The main issues have since been addressed quickly by the interim headteacher and deputy headteacher, who joined the school in September 2016.

The inspection goes on to say staff now recognise that when pupils are behind in their learning, this can mean that pupils are underachieving, not that they have special educational needs/and or disabilities.

‘Effectiveness of leadership and management’ and ‘Outcomes for pupils’ were both rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.

Current pupils’ progress in science is increasing steadily because of ‘recent improvements to the school’s science curriculum and teaching’, and ‘some pupils, for example in Years 2 and 6, make good progress in their mathematics skills and knowledge’.

The school watchdog recognised strengths the school has, including ‘rapid improvement’ of the quality of teaching, learning and assessment by the new senior leadership team, attractive classrooms, a strong culture of protecting and caring for pupils.

The report praises the inclusiveness of the school, saying ‘pupils respect different people and communities; they have the positive attitudes and values necessary to be good citizens’.

Pupils’ behaviour was praised, saying they are ‘self-confident’, ‘feel settled’ and ‘enjoy coming to school and want to learn’. All pupils with whom inspectors spoke said they feel safe at Lowerplace, and that bullying is not an issue in their school.

In 2016, the school was not awarded any Year 6 SATs results owing to an investigation into maladministration of the tests at Key Stage Two. Consequently, a number of staffing changes have occurred which led to the local authority and governing board putting interim leadership arrangements in place during a period of uncertainty for the school.

Interim headteacher Simon Moore said: “The school’s latest OFSTED report reflects the great work that has taken place by a very dedicated teaching team led effectively since September 2016 under interim leadership arrangements. While the overall rating has changed to requires improvement, the wording of the report reflects the positive journey that the school is now on. We are committed to ensuring that our improvement journey continues and to ensuring that our children receive the best possible start in life.”