Assurance after school is ordered to improve
AHEADTEACHER has issued assurances about improvements under way after Ofsted graded a Widnes school as ‘requires improvement’.
Elizabeth Boydon said inspectors were ‘more than happy’ with the direction of travel at All Saints Upton Church Of England Primary.
Ofsted inspected the school on March 4 and published its findings on June 24, grading the school as ‘requires improvement’ overall and in the ‘quality of education’ and ‘leadership and management’ categories.
The school was rated ‘good’ for ‘behaviour and attitudes’, ‘personal development’ and ‘early years provision’.
Inspectors Ian Shackleton and John Daley reported that pupils enjoyed attending the school and were ‘polite and welcoming’.
They felt safe and their work in maths and English was good.
Children with special educational needs or disabilities were ‘fully involved included in all aspects of school life’ and received extra support.
The inspectors raised concerns that achievement levels had fallen because of ‘significant issues’ that had affected staffing. They added that the appointment of two senior staff had injected ‘greater urgency’ into turning round the school’s fortunes.
The inspection report said: “Significant issues have affected the staffing and governance of the school since the previous inspection.
“These difficulties resulted in a decline in pupils’ achievement.
“Following the appointment of two new senior leaders, there has been a greater urgency to turn around the fortunes of the school.
“Current pupils are learning better than previously.
“The governing body recently arranged for a review of its own effectiveness. Governors now hold leaders to account properly for the performance of the school.”
Mrs Boydon said work has been taking place to implement Ofsted’s recommendations.
She said: “The inspectors are more than happy with the direction in which the school is moving and we were very happy with their positive comments about the children.”
It was graded ‘good’ overall when last inspected in 2015.
All Saints Upton primary is on Hough Green Road and has around 205 pupils according to the report.
Visit reports.ofsted.gov. uk online to read the full report.