Inspectors report ‘serious shortcomings’ in teachers
PUPILS at an ‘outstanding’ primary school were wrongly assessed as having learning difficulties and disabilities when in fact they were just ‘underachieving’, Ofsted inspectors found.
Some children at Lowerplace Primary were incorrectly identified as having special educational needs because of ‘serious shortcomings’ in teachers’ abilities to assess them, a report states.
A new interim headteacher has been drafted in and ‘quickly addressed’ the problem, according to the watchdog.
Pupil assessments are now said to be ‘accurate and reliable’, with standards of teaching ‘improving rapidly’ under a new leadership team, but some youngsters are still struggling.
The report adds: “The staff now recognise that when pupils are behind in their learning this can mean that pupils are underachieving and not that they have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Consequently the number of pupils known as having special educational needs and/or disabilities has reduced and is much more accurate.
“Nevertheless it is still too soon to see the full impact of the school’s revised arrangements to pinpoint the needs of these pupils through better assessment. Hence some pupils struggle in their learning.”
The revelation comes as the education watchdog criticised standards of teaching at the Kingsway school and downgraded its rating to ‘requires improvement’.
Teaching was criticised as ‘too variable’ and ‘not consistently strong enough to provide every pupil with the learning they need’.
But pupils’ behaviour was praised, with children said to be ‘sensible and thoughtful’ and self-disciplined. And the school’s new leadership team, which was brought in after Lowerplace was hit by allegations of exam cheating last year, was also praised by Ofsted.
Inspectors wrote: “The school’s new leadership team, working tirelessly, have brought stability and a clear direction to the work of the school.
“The standards of teaching, learning and assessment are now improving rapidly.”
A joint investigation by Rochdale council and the Standards and Testing Agency into suspected ‘maladministration’ of SATs tests is still ongoing.
Interim headteacher Simon Moore did not comment specifically on the misdiagnosis of pupils with SEN, but in a statement said: “The school’s latest Ofsted report reflects the great work that has taken place by a very dedicated teaching team led effectively since September 2016 under interim leadership arrangements.
“While the overall rating has changed to requires improvement, the wording of the report reflects the positive journey that the school is now on. We are committed to ensuring that our improvement journey continues and to ensuring that our children receive the best possible start in life.”