High Peak school gets children off to ‘positive start’ says Ofsted
A school in the High Peak meets the expected standard in attendance and behaviour, early years, inclusion along with personal development and wellbeing but Ofsted say its curriculum and teaching as well as its achievement and leadership all require attention.
The education watchdog visited Buxworth Primary in September and the report has now been published.
Inspector Shaheen Hussain said: “Positive relationships between pupils and staff are at the heart of this school's caring ethos.
“Pupils know that staff value and listen to their views.
“They are confident that staff will resolve any worries or concerns quickly. Pupils know that incidents of unkindness are rare and are dealt with effectively when they occur.”
Looking at the teaching at the Station Road school the inspector noted that sometimes, ‘pupils do not benefit from learning activities that help them to recall key knowledge’.
She noted: “Gaps in pupils' earlier learning are not always resolved effectively.
“Leaders have begun to take effective action to rectify weaknesses in the English and mathematics curriculums.
“With the help of external support, they have implemented a range of strategies to strengthen pupils' recall across the curriculum.
“There are early signs that this work is beginning to address some of the weaknesses identified, particularly in mathematics.”
In some lessons, pupils build successfully on prior learning and develop increasing confidence and fluency.
However, these approaches are not ‘implemented consistently across the curriculum’ and as such, pupils' experiences of learning ‘remain variable, and some of the weaknesses reflected in published outcomes are still evident in some pupils' work’.
The report noted pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those with additional barriers to learning typically benefit from appropriate adaptations and meaningful support.
This helps them to access learning alongside their peers and make secure progress from their starting points.
Pupils benefit from a wide range of clubs, sporting opportunities, performances and community events.
Leaders carefully monitor participation and adapt provision to meet pupils' interests and needs.
Lunchtime clubs, reading groups and personalised opportunities for vulnerable pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, ensure that these experiences are accessible to all.
The early years were praised and it was noted children ‘get off to a positive start’.
Ms Hussain said: “Leaders prioritise the development of early reading. Children develop secure listening, speaking and early language skills that provide a solid foundation for future learning.
“The environment is calm, nurturing and well organised, helping children to feel safe and ready to learn.
“As a result, children make positive progress from their starting points and are prepared well for Year 1.”
Looking at what the school needs to do next, the report states leaders should ensure that recent developments in writing, mathematics and pupils' foundational knowledge, including handwriting, English grammar, punctuation and spelling, are ‘implemented consistently’.
Ms Hussain said: “Leaders should ensure learning is matched consistently to pupils' needs and starting points so that pupils build securely on prior learning and acquire the knowledge and skills intended across the curriculum.
“Leaders, including governors, should evaluate the impact of their work thoroughly to ensure that agreed actions are implemented consistently and lead to improved outcomes for pupils.”
Paul Bertram, Headteacher at Buxworth Primary School added: “It is nice to see how the Inspectors recognised the work taking place with regards to the new developments within the curriculum at the school. It was also wonderful to read what it is like to be a pupil at the school and the nurturing and caring ethos the whole school community has. "I would like to say thank you to everyone, both within the school community and also within the local community as a whole, for all their positive comments. It was lovely to hear and shows the strong collaboration we have between school, families and the local area.
"I am very proud to be the headteacher at such a fantastic school."