Primary school in quick response to Ofsted report
A Shropshire primary school is working with the council to rapidly improve its standards following a recent report from Government inspectors.
The Ofsted inspection of The Grange Primary School, in Shrewsbury recognised that pupils enjoy going to school, that their behaviour is good and that parents are happy with the school. However, inspectors judged that the quality of teaching and achievement of pupils needed to improve.
The school is working closely with advisers from the council to ensure that the measures needed to bring about the improvements are put in place. Government inspectors will return at regular intervals to check on the progress the school is making and that improvements are happening at the pace required.
Inspectors visited the school in late November 2012. They commented that adults work hard to create a positive learning environment and they praised pupils’ above-average attendance. However, whilst the quality of teaching is improving, inspectors said there was “not enough good teaching to address the legacy of underachievement”.
The report also said that teachers’ expectations of what pupils can do and achieve are not high enough, so too few pupils reach the levels they should in writing and in mathematics.
Inspectors recognised that teaching is improving as a consequence of action taken by school leaders: “This has eliminated inadequate teaching and has successfully begun to tackle specific areas of weakness. However, teaching remains inadequate in important respects and the sharing of existing good practice has yet to pay long-term dividends.”
The report did highlight a number of positive aspects of the school.
Inspectors said: “One pupil rightly described the school as ‘a friendly, welcoming school’. Pupils have good attitudes to learning and show good levels of patience, respect for others and perseverance. Pupils of all ages are proud when they achieve well and are keen to show visitors their work.”
The report also commented: “The headteacher has a clear and ambitious vision for improvement. She is well supported by a committed staff. Morale is high and there is a strong sense of collective enterprise.”
Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for education and skills, said:
“Although the overall outcome of the report is disappointing, it is encouraging to see that inspectors praised a number of aspects of the school. We are supporting the headteacher and governors to deliver their vision for improvement and I am confident standards will quickly improve.”
Chair of governors, Claire Bilgic, said:
“As a school we acknowledge the need to improve on the areas highlighted by the Ofsted report. We have been implementing measures to bring about rapid improvements in the standard of education, within the school, prior to the inspection, which was recognised by Ofsted.
“Our main priority has and always will be the education of the pupils at our school and to provide a safe and happy environment to enable them to reach their full potential.”
