Ofsted conducted a short inspection of St Edward’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School on 8 May 2019, following the school’s previous good rating in July 2015. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education despite significant changes in leadership and staffing, including the recent appointment of a permanent headteacher and deputy headteacher. The governing body has played a crucial role in ensuring the school functions effectively during this transition, making necessary adjustments to leadership structures and holding staff accountable for pupil progress.
The new leadership team has quickly identified the school’s strengths and areas for improvement, demonstrating a clear vision rooted in the school’s Christian ethos. Pupils express pride in their school, which fosters good behavior and positive relationships within the school community. Despite the challenges posed by staffing changes, the school has made strides in addressing previously identified areas for improvement. Additional support staff are effectively utilized to assist pupils requiring extra help, and teachers are employing more precise assessments to tailor their instruction to meet the needs of the most able students.
In 2018, the school experienced a notable decline in pupil attainment at the end of Years 2 and 6, particularly in mathematics. In response, leaders have established strong partnerships with local schools to enhance teaching and learning. These collaborations have provided teachers with opportunities to learn from effective practices, resulting in most pupils now making at least good progress across various subjects. However, the quality of teaching remains inconsistent across all subjects and year groups, which continues to be a focus for the leadership team.
Safeguarding measures at the school are effective, with all arrangements in place to ensure pupil safety during the staffing transition. The leadership team has implemented regular monitoring of staff suitability and provides ongoing training and updates to staff and parents regarding safeguarding responsibilities. Pupils feel safe and confident that any issues will be addressed by school staff, and parents largely express satisfaction with the safety of their children at the school.
The inspection also focused on the effectiveness of the new leadership team and their impact on teaching quality. Leaders have raised expectations for both staff and pupils, utilizing feedback from parents, staff, and pupils to inform strategic actions that have led to improved teaching and outcomes, particularly in Years 2 and 6. The role of middle leaders has been strengthened, contributing to whole-school improvement, although there is a need for them to evaluate the impact of their work more effectively.
The school has taken steps to support disadvantaged pupils, particularly in mathematics, where their progress was previously lagging. Leaders are closely monitoring the provision for these pupils and have implemented changes based on an external review. Teachers are now incorporating more practical work in mathematics lessons to enhance understanding. However, some disadvantaged pupils, especially those with special educational needs, still face challenges in making sufficient progress due to a lack of opportunities to revisit difficult topics.
Finally, the school is working to improve the achievement of pupils with special educational needs, particularly in reading and phonics. While there is some effective phonics teaching, it does not consistently meet the needs of all pupils. Leaders are addressing gaps in learning and adapting teaching strategies to better support these students. Overall, the school is on a positive trajectory, with clear steps identified for further improvement in teaching and learning.
