Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of Fairhaven Primary School on May 4, 2023, following two successive judgments of requires improvement. The inspection aimed to assess the progress made by the school since the last graded inspection. The inspector engaged with the headteacher, senior leaders, local governing body representatives, and local authority representatives to discuss the actions taken for improvement. Additionally, the inspector observed lessons, spoke with pupils, and reviewed school improvement plans and documentation.
The findings indicate that Fairhaven Primary School continues to require improvement. While leaders have made some progress, further work is necessary for the school to achieve a good rating. The school is advised to ensure that improvement plans are focused on the most critical actions needed for progress, with clearly defined outcomes and urgent deadlines for implementation.
Since the previous inspection, there have been staffing and governance changes. Although areas for improvement identified earlier are being addressed, the implementation of these improvements has been slow and lacks focus. The school has prioritized reading by adopting a new phonics scheme and acquiring additional reading materials. Staff have received training to deliver this scheme, but inconsistencies in phonics instruction remain. The headteacher has recognized the need for extra support to ensure consistent delivery of phonics across all teachers. Despite these challenges, pupils enjoy learning to read, and new reading books have been purchased to match their phonics knowledge.
The curriculum has been rewritten to ensure coherence and sequencing, with leaders identifying key knowledge for pupils to learn. However, the implementation of this revised curriculum is still in its early stages and has not yet had the intended impact. In some lessons, pupils are introduced to new content without having mastered the basics. Strategies to help pupils retain knowledge over time are being introduced, but these efforts are also in the early stages and not yet fully embedded.
Changes to the governing body have occurred since the last inspection, with new members focusing on training to develop the skills necessary to hold school leaders accountable. Governors are now visiting the school to verify information provided by leaders and are beginning to challenge them appropriately by asking relevant questions.
The leadership team and staff are committed to improvement and have identified priorities based on previous inspection findings. Development plans have been created with the assistance of an external consultant. However, some of these plans lack the precision and detail needed to define desired outcomes, resulting in insufficient focus on critical areas needing improvement.
The school has actively sought external support, and subject leaders appreciate the assistance they have received in developing their subject areas. Staff feel that their well-being is considered by leaders, contributing to a positive working environment.
In summary, while Fairhaven Primary School has made some progress since the last inspection, it continues to require improvement. The school must focus on refining its improvement plans, ensuring consistency in phonics instruction, and effectively implementing the revised curriculum. With ongoing commitment from leadership and staff, along with appropriate support and challenge from governors, the school can work towards achieving a good rating in the future.
