Closure threat Ofsted finds ‘no major concerns’ at primary school
APRIMARY school in south Bristol threatened with permanent closure was visited by education watchdogs three weeks ago.
Ofsted did not find “any significant concerns” with the way St Pius X primary in Withywood had managed the return of pupils since reopening last month after it was forced to shut along with other schools by the coronavirus pandemic.
The news comes as parents fight the possible closure of the school, which is one of only a handful of Roman Catholic primary schools in south Bristol.
The governing body has announced it wants to close the school, which is run by Bristol City Council under the trusteeship of the Diocese of Clifton.
Church leaders and the school governors said the school was “unviable” because of falling numbers and a poor educational performance.
A five-week consultation is underway, after which the Department for Education and the council’s ruling Labour administration will decide the school’s fate.
If the school closes, the final lessons will take place next summer and pupils will be in new schools next September.
Rated Inadequate by Ofsted and put into Special Measures two years ago, the school has 92 pupils on the roll, 10 of whom started in Reception in September.
In a letter to headteacher Denise Fannin dated October 14, Ofsted inspector Jen Southall wrote: “We did not find any significant concerns during the visit.”
The visit on October 1 was part of a national initiative to check how England’s schools are managing the return to full education for pupils after schools closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
It was not an inspection to assess the school’s performance against education standards.
The inspector wrote: “The school opened to all pupils on 3 September 2020.
“At the time of this visit, school attendance is broadly in line with the normal attendance for this time of year. Leaders are working each week with families of those pupils who have not returned to school.
“Not all of the subjects in the national curriculum are currently being taught. Music, design technology and modern foreign languages are on hold. You will reintroduce these subjects and deliver the full curriculum at the start of the spring term 2021.
“Pupils have completed assessments in reading, writing and mathematics. Teachers are using this information to restructure the curriculum and determine the order in which key concepts and knowledge are taught.
“Teachers are beginning to check important knowledge from the wider curriculum that pupils may have missed during the spring and summer term.
“You are looking to see how these gaps can be covered in future topics.
“You have plans in place to reintroduce educational visits to help pupils further with their learning.
“The school has provided remote learning for all pupils. Leaders have plans in place to deliver further training for staff and pupils on how to use online resources should they be required in the future.
“Thank you again for contributing to this important national work.
“The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.”