A school where ‘pupils do not achieve well in several subjects’ has been ordered to improve by the education watchdog. Ofsted found children at St Joseph’s RC Primary School, in Stockport, worked hard, behaved well and felt they were part of a ‘happy family’ - enjoying ‘caring relationships’ with staff.
But officials say the Etchells Street school ‘requires improvement’ despite its ‘high expectations for pupils’ work and conduct'. A new inspection report reads: “Leaders are ambitious for pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
"However, pupils do not achieve well in several subjects. This is because leaders have not ensured that the curriculum is designed and delivered as well as it should be.”
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The teaching of some subjects was said to be ‘well-designed’, helping pupils to ‘build new knowledge on what they already know’. In these lessons, pupils were said to achieve well.
In other areas, however, this was not the case. “Pupils do not achieve as well as they should,” the report adds.
“Leaders have not identified the important knowledge that pupils will learn from the early years to Year 6 in enough detail.” It continues: “In some subjects other than English and mathematics, leaders have not checked how well teachers deliver the curriculums.
“As a result, some teachers do not deliver the curriculums as intended. This slows pupils’ progress in these subjects.”
Teachers were observed checking pupils’ learning in lessons, helping children - including those from disadvantaged backgrounds - to keep up. But inspectors said this did not identify the knowledge that pupils had missed or forgotten - hindering their progress.
SEND pupils were aslo found not to achieve as well as they should because they do not get the right support. However, there was also plenty of praise for the school in the report.
Leaders were said to ‘successfully promote a love of reading’, with those struggling quickly receiving ‘effective support’ to help them catch up. “As a result, many pupils become confident, fluent readers,” the report adds - although it was noted that a failure to monitor how children’s knowledge develops over time 'limits’ their achievement in reading.
Further positives in the report include that pupils behave well around school, listening carefully to adults and each other’. And the school was found to have established clear and consistent routines, which children in the early years quickly learn to follow.
“Leaders ensure that pupils become responsible young members of society,” the report adds. “Pupils work hard in lessons and play cooperatively with their friends at social times.
"They understand leaders’ high expectations for their work and conduct.” Children were also said to value the activities on offer at lunchtime, including dancing, basketball and a movie club.
“Pupils explained that leaders do not tolerate bullying of any kind,” the report adds. "They trust supportive staff to swiftly resolve any bullying or unkind behaviour.”
Leaders and governors were said to understand the school still has work to do but ‘have established a clear vision that is focused on improving the quality of education’.
Headteacher Ann Reeh said the school was ‘delighted that the inspectors recognised the real strengths of this community - caring relationships, supportive staff and leaders’ high expectations of behaviour and pupils’ work.
“We are particularly proud that pupils believe that “school is like being part of a happy family,” she said. “Of course, there are areas of school life that need addressing to ensure that all our pupils thrive and succeed. "
Ms Reeh, who began in the summer term, was also pleased Ofsted 'recognised the clear and ambitious vision which governors and school leaders have established, which is focused on improving the quality of education across the school'.
“The school has entered an exciting period of school improvement and we look forward to celebrating the impact of our school improvement journey when Ofsted return,” she added.
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