A school says it has already begun making significant improvements after an Ofsted inspection identified areas requiring urgent attention.
Following an inspection in April, Ofsted judged Park Junior School as requiring urgent improvement, identifying concerns relating to achievement, the curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance.
Despite the overall judgement, inspectors also highlighted positive aspects of the school, noting that “across the school, pupils feel safe and have trusted adults they can turn to with any worries” and that “staff show genuine care and empathy towards all pupils.”
Responding to the report, Peter Inglesham, chair of governors at the Stonehouse Park Federation, said governors accepted the findings and were already taking action.
He said: “Governors recognise the inspectors’ criticism and accept the report’s findings.
“I am pleased that the inspectors recognise the genuine care that our staff have towards all pupils at the school. This has always been what I have observed when visiting the school: every single member of staff shows up to give their best for all the children at the school.”
Mr Inglesham said governors had appointed a new headteacher, Miss Shona Swan, who joined the federation from Bishops Cleeve Primary Academy.
He added: “She has hit the ground running and has begun to make necessary changes to strengthen teaching, raise expectations and improve outcomes for all pupils.”
In a letter sent to parents, Miss Swan outlined a programme of improvements already underway ahead of the new academic year.
She said: “We have already started to work on our approach to behaviour. We have used feedback from staff and parents to develop a behaviour system which is clear and consistent for all children and can be easily understood. This will be shared with parents towards the end of term and launched across all schools in September.”
She said staff had also been working to improve classroom routines and raise expectations for learning.
“This work will continue in September through the focus of our maths curriculum across the infant and junior schools and in the teaching of phonics across the infant school,” she said.
Miss Swan added that the federation had also begun reviewing its Early Years provision, starting with the pre-school classroom and transition into Reception.
She concluded: “We hope that in September you will notice not only the improvements we have made to behaviour but also the environmental changes which will make a significant difference to your children’s experiences in school.”
