On December 3, 2020, Ofsted conducted a visit to St Osmund’s Catholic Primary School in London, led by Her Majesty’s Inspector Andrea Bedeau. This visit was part of a broader initiative to assess how schools are managing the return to full education following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The visit was not an inspection in the traditional sense, as Ofsted is currently not providing graded judgments or conducting the full range of inspection activities. Instead, the focus was on gathering information about the school’s response to the challenges posed by the pandemic.
During the visit, discussions were held with the headteacher, the assistant headteacher, and the English leader. Due to protective measures in place, inspectors did not speak with pupils. The context of the visit was significant, as it aimed to understand how schools were adapting to the new educational landscape after an extended period of remote learning. Ofsted is visiting a wide range of schools, including those of varying performance levels, to gather insights that will inform national reporting and policy.
The findings from the visit indicated that St Osmund’s Catholic Primary School had faced challenges, including a small number of pupils needing to study from home due to self-isolation. Despite these challenges, the school was managing to deliver a curriculum across all subjects, albeit with some modifications. For instance, physical education had shifted focus to prioritize outdoor activities over gymnastics. School leaders expressed their intention to return to the normal curriculum by the summer of 2021.
The visit also highlighted some gaps in learning, particularly in phonics knowledge among the youngest pupils, which had been identified through checks conducted in September 2020. To address these gaps, the school implemented additional daily sessions aimed at helping individual pupils catch up. In mathematics, assessments revealed that older pupils had missed some learning in geometry, prompting teachers to incorporate geometry activities into every lesson to bridge this gap.
Leaders acknowledged that certain subjects could not be effectively taught remotely, as evidenced by the Year 4 unit on electricity, which was planned for a special science week in Year 5 to ensure continuity in learning. The school has also established a system for providing online learning resources for pupils who are self-isolating, including teaching slides and links to activities across various subjects.
Overall, the visit did not reveal any significant concerns regarding the school’s operations during this challenging period. The insights gathered will contribute to Ofsted’s understanding of how schools are navigating the complexities of education during the pandemic. The information will be shared with the government and the education sector to inform future policy decisions. The headteacher and staff were commended for their efforts in adapting to the circumstances and ensuring that pupils continue to receive an education despite the ongoing challenges. The letter summarizing the visit will be published on the Ofsted website, ensuring transparency and accountability in the school’s operations during this unprecedented time.
