Ofsted have released the latest inspection report for Brading Primary School today.
The report reveals the school ‘Requires Improvement’ in all areas. It was last inspected in May 2011, when Ofsted was judged as Good.
Reasons for the weaknesses
The report highlights the areas where the school is failing:
- Teaching is not consistently good. Pupils’ knowledge and skills in spoken English, reading, writing and mathematics, especially in Years 1 to 4, are not high enough.
- Pupils do not develop a good range of vocabulary to speak and write confidently. Their limited knowledge of the sounds letters make (phonics) means they do not read and spell to a high standard.
- Not all adults have high expectations that pupils will form their numbers or letters correctly, use a good style of handwriting or apply their literacy and mathematical skills well across a variety of subjects.
- Some teaching assistants are not given sufficient guidance on the most effective way to support pupils throughout lessons.
- Pupils are not always engaged in their learning, and do not take the pride they should in presenting their work neatly. They cannot always see what the teacher is trying to show them and do not have the resources to support new learning. Consequently, their behaviour requires improvement.
- Teachers’ marking does not give pupils the precise information they need to improve.
- Too many pupils take days off school.
- Subject leaders, while developing their roles, are not yet ensuring that pupils do as well as they can in each year group.
- Governors are new. They do not have sufficient knowledge and understanding to check how well the school is doing and offer senior leaders greater levels of challenge.
Strengths of the school
However, there are areas where Ofsted felt the school has strengths:
- Ambitious senior leaders, who have high aspirations for all pupils, have taken robust action against weak teaching to tackle underachievement.
- Good teaching in Years 5 and 6 in mathematics and writing is helping pupils to quickly close gaps in their learning. Pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium do much better than others in writing.
- Some teachers ask probing questions that challenge pupils to think their ideas through, and inspire them to achieve more.
- The behaviour and attitudes of pupils in Years 5 and 6 are often exemplary.
- Vulnerable pupils, and their families, are supported very well, and pupils are kept safe.
The report
Full details of the report can be found in the report embedded below.
Image: alexpanoiu under CC BY 2.0
