Irthington Village School Ofsted Inspection

Today, the Ofsted Inspection for Irthington Village School is published. The Inspectors found that the strengths identified in the last report have been maintained, such as welfare and the provision for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Children in Reception are achieving well in the areas of learning for communication, language and learning and mathematics. In Years 1 and 2, pupils are achieving well in English and Mathematics. They are effectively developing their skills, knowledge and understanding of literacy and numeracy to develop their learning and performance in other subjects. Attitudes to school are very good and pupils want to come to school, concentrate well and want to learn. 

The Inspectors also found some weaknesses, which need to be addressed, including improvements in leadership and management, and the curriculum, teaching and learning in years 3 to 6. The areas for improvement will form the basis of the Governors' Action Plan. 

The report identifies the following strengths 

• Teaching and learning in Reception and Years 1 and 2 are effective and promote good achievement 
• Pupils have very good attitudes to school and work. Their behaviour is good and they develop very good relationships 
• The quality and range of learning opportunities are good in Reception and Years 1 and 2 
• The provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is effective 
• Procedures and practices to promote pupils' welfare are good 
• The specialist teaching of pupils with special educational needs is good     

The report also finds serious weaknesses and areas that need improvement, these include: 

• The quality of teaching and learning in Years 3 to 6 is weak and this results in pupils' unsatisfactory achievement 
• The quality and range of learning opportunities in Years 3 to 6 are unsatisfactory 
• Leadership and management have shortcomings in strategic planning and in the monitoring and evaluation of provision     

Christine Anderson, Headteacher of the School says 

"We are pleased that the report recognises that there is good teaching in some parts of the school but of course we are naturally disappointed with the report's comments about weaknesses and, we do realise that there is work that needs to be done to improve the school. The Governing Body has responded positively to the recommendations of the report. With the support of the Local Education Service, we have immediately begun to set targets for improvement and raise the quality of leadership, management and the teaching in Years 3 to 6. An Action Plan will be drawn up and will address all of the recommended areas of improvement. With the support and hard work of the staff, parents and governors I feel that we all have the ability to raise standards in the school and plans are already being implemented to achieve this."