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12/09/03 - Arlecdon Primary School Ofsted Inspection

Today, the Ofsted Inspection for Arlecdon Primary School is published. The Inspectors found that the school provides an acceptable standard of education for its pupils, they are happy at school, relationships are positive and behaviour is generally good. However there are areas that require significant improvement which will form the basis of the Governors’ Action Plan.   

The report identifies the following strengths   

  • Children in the foundation stage make a very good start to their school life in nursery  
  • Governors are effective in their identified roles   
  • Support for pupils’ with special educational needs is effective  
  • Provision for pupils’ moral and social development is good  
  • Pupils have positive attitudes to school and relationships are good  
  • Most pupils behave well in and around school. The majority are courteous and polite   
  • Parents provide good support for school and effective links are made with the community     

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

Standards in mathematics, writing and design technology are too low in the infant and junior classes.    

Standards in art are too low in the top junior class   

  • The headteacher does not give clear enough education direction for the development of the school, especially to ensure that the standards are raised  
  • The quality of teaching and learning is not checked sufficiently to identify the areas that need improvement and to ensure that action is taken  
  • The quality of teaching is unsatisfactory overall.  
  • Teachers do not plan work carefully enough for pupils with different abilities.   
  • Expectations are not consistently high and so higher attaining pupils do not always make sufficient progress  
  • With the exception of nursery, procedures used for assessment are unsatisfactory and so teachers have too little information about how well pupils are doing in most subjects  
  • The requirements of the locally agreed syllabus for religious education are not fulfilled in the top infant class and so standards achieved by pupils by the age of seven are not as they should be  
  • The high quality of provision in nursery is not consistent throughout the foundation stage      

Ged Toman, Chair of Governors says   

“We are pleased that the report recognises our efforts to improve the educational standards within the school, but of course we are naturally disappointed with the report’s comments about weaknesses. Our intention is to build on our strengths as we seek to improve in other areas identified by the Inspection Team. We do realise that there is work that needs to be done to improve the school and teaching staff and the Governing Body have responded positively to the recommendations of the report. An Action Plan is already being drawn up and will address all of the recommended areas of improvement. We believe that our children have an entitlement to the best possible teaching and resources, and will work hard to achieve a standard of which staff, pupils and parents can be justly proud.”