Primary school vows to improve following inspection

Staff and governors at Buildwas Primary School are working with Shropshire Council to address the outcomes of a recent report from a Government inspector.

An Ofsted inspector visited the school on 29 and 30 January 2015. He found that the leadership and management of the early years are good, that teaching in early years has improved since the last inspection and is now good, so children achieve well, and that pupils conduct themselves well outside of lessons.

However, though he rated early years provision as ‘good’ the inspector found that overall the school requires special measures.

The Ofsted report says that in order to improve the school needs to: improve the quality and consistency of teaching in years 1 to 6; ensure that the school has robust systems for keeping pupils safe; improve the provision for, and progress of, disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs; improve leadership and management; and improve governance. The report makes a series of recommendations about what needs to be done in each of these areas.

School leaders have taken immediate action and are already working very closely with education advisers from the council to ensure that the measures needed to bring about the improvements are put in place.

Government inspectors will now return at regular intervals to check on the progress the school is making and that improvements are happening at the pace required.

Aileen McMillan, acting headteacher at Buildwas Primary School, said:

“We are already working on the issues raised by the inspector. An action plan is in place to take the school forward, focused on the key priorities. Staff and governors are fully committed to securing further improvements and we are already making progress.”

Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services – transformation and safeguarding, added:

“It is clear that there are issues that need to be addressed. The headteacher, staff and governors have already begun work with the support of advisers from the council to address these priorities. We are all committed to making the necessary improvements to ensure the best possible provision for all pupils at the school.”

A copy of the Ofsted report has been sent home to parents and carers.