Newport Primary school was placed in Special Measures in June this year and has now had its first Section 8 inspection by Ofsted following the rating of Inadequate.
As with Barton Manor Primary the week before last, Ofsted have found that the local authority’s statement of action is not fit for purpose as well as the school’s improvement plan.
All change
The report reveals that since the last inspection, eight members of staff have left the school and seven new teachers have been appointed.
The acting headteacher, Mr Seaward, has also only been in the position since September and with the Principal of Christ the King College (who is assisting), inherited the plans from the previous leadership.
Governors from Hampshire are also due to start working with the Governing team.
Positive steps being taken
Although positive steps are being taken by the new leadership to improve the school, the inspector still found weaknesses that must be addressed:
- The Isle of Wight local authority statement of action is not fit for purpose. It requires improvement in order to remedy the shortcomings identified in this report.
- The school’s improvement plan is not fit for purpose. In addition to the weaknesses identified in the report (embedded below), the plan also requires the following improvements:
- ensure the plan clarifies how links with external partners, such as Christ the King College, will contribute to raising the quality of teaching and learning and improving the leadership and management of the school
- ensure the plan clarifies the contribution that leaders, managers and governors will make to improving the quality of teaching and learning and outcomes for pupils
- ensure there is a clear and manageable system to assess pupils’ learning
- set challenging targets for all groups of pupils from Reception to Year 6 to increase their rate of learning and progress.
Update 16.10.2013 10.47:
Richard Priest, Isle of Wight Council cabinet member responsible for children’s services said:
“The new administration recognise the scale of the challenges facing the authority, and this inspection report reflects the depth of work that is required, including ensuring that the support given by the local authority, now in partnership with Hampshire, is both fit for purpose and makes a real difference to the learning of children in all schools on the Island.
“The inspection, in the second week of the new school year, recognises that eight members of teaching staff left at the end of the last academic year and that seven new teachers had been appointed, under a new leadership structure, with the quality and impact of new programmes yet to be fully monitored and evaluated.
“Whilst recognising the weaknesses within the statement of action, a clear strategy has been devised to support leaders, managers and governors improving the quality of teaching and learning – our Hampshire partners have already brokered support for special educational needs, English and mathematics, and additional governor support is also planned for this term.
“I welcome the commitment of governors, Christ the King College, and all involved in the school to address the issues highlighted in the inspection report, and the local authority with our Hampshire partners share that resolve and commitment.”
