Northwood Primary School has had its first Ofsted inspection last month since becoming an Academy.
The report has been released today and reveal the Inspector found the school ‘requires improvement’.
Weaknesses of the school
The Inspector states the school is not good because:
- Pupils’ achievement is too varied. Pupils do not always make good progress, particularly during Key Stage 2. Too few pupils reach the higher levels at the end of Key Stage 2.
- Key groups of pupils, such as the more able, boys and disadvantaged pupils, do not make
consistently good progress. By the time they leave the academy, they have not made as much progress as their peers. - The teaching of reading is too variable. Pupils do not achieve as well as they should in the phonic (the link between letters and sounds) check in Year 1. More able readers do not achieve as well as they should.
- The monitoring of teaching is not always robust. As a result, improvements to teaching have been too slow.
- The quality of teaching is not consistent. Teachers’ expectations of pupils are sometimes too low and work does not challenge pupils sufficiently.
- The role of phase leaders is not well enough developed. These staff have not been effective enough in ensuring teaching and learning are consistently good in their areas of responsibility.
- Governors do not provide rigorous challenge about the effectiveness of the academy. They do not hold leaders sufficiently to account for how resources are used to improve pupils’ achievement.
- The pupil premium grant is not used effectively to ensure disadvantaged pupils catch up with their peers.
- School plans for improvement do not focus sharply enough on the achievement of pupils. As a result, work to improve the academy has not always had the impact that is needed.
Strengths of the school
The inspector found the school has the following strengths:
- Pupils’ behaviour is good. Pupils work hard in lessons, mix well with each other and contribute to the school community.
- Provision in the early years is effective. As a result, children make good progress and high proportions achieve a good level of development.
- The curriculum prepares pupils well for life in modern Britain.
- Pupils enjoy coming to the school and their attendance is good.
- The work of leaders to keep pupils safe is outstanding. As a result, pupils have a thorough understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe, for example when using the internet.
- The academy is moving in the right direction under the leadership of the headteacher. The quality of teaching and pupils’ achievement is improving.
- All staff have a high commitment to the academy and work well together as a team. They develop excellent links with parents, who hold the academy in high regard.
Full details in the report embedded below. Click on full screen icon to see larger version.
Image: hansel5569 under CC BY 2.0
