Kingsway Primary School, located in Wallasey, Merseyside, underwent an inspection on June 27 and 28, 2023. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, alongside the quality of education, behavior and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years provision. The previous inspection in February 2018 had rated the school as good.
Pupils at Kingsway Primary School enjoy their time at the school and feel a sense of belonging. They appreciate their friendships and feel safe, knowing that staff are available to support them with any concerns. Relationships between pupils and staff are warm and respectful. While instances of bullying do occur, school leaders address these incidents promptly.
Despite the positive environment, there are challenges in the academic performance of pupils. Leaders have high expectations for achievement, but learning across the curriculum is inconsistent. Many pupils have gaps in their knowledge, which hinders their ability to build on prior learning. Although most pupils strive to behave well, some exhibit disruptive behavior in class, affecting the learning of others. Additionally, attendance issues persist, with some pupils not attending regularly.
The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including after-school clubs and trips, which pupils enjoy. The enrichment program is well-designed and helps develop pupils' wider talents and interests. The leadership team is actively working to improve the quality of education. They are refining the curriculum content across subjects and ensuring that pupils are taught the full range of national curriculum subjects. Changes to the curriculum design have led to improved achievement for some pupils, but gaps in learning from the previous curriculum still impact current pupils.
In the early years, leaders are developing the curriculum to establish foundational knowledge for children, preparing them for Year 1. However, weaknesses in the previous curriculum mean that some children do not achieve as well as they should. Leaders are also focusing on upskilling teachers in curriculum delivery, but many teachers currently lack confidence in what to teach and when. This results in insufficient opportunities for pupils to revisit prior learning, making it difficult for them to connect new knowledge with what they have learned before.
Teachers are becoming more proficient in using assessment systems as the new curriculum is implemented. They effectively address misconceptions when they arise, but some teachers still lack a secure understanding of pupils' foundational knowledge. Leaders appropriately identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, but staff sometimes struggle to adapt the curriculum delivery effectively for these pupils.
A new phonics scheme has been introduced, starting in the early years, and staff are gaining confidence in its delivery. Leaders ensure that reading materials match pupils' knowledge and swiftly identify those who are falling behind. The school has developed a new library stocked with high-quality texts to enhance pupils' understanding of literature.
While behavior is improving, some pupils still struggle to manage their emotions, leading to disruptions in learning. Leaders promote personal development effectively, fostering independence and resilience among pupils. The school emphasizes the importance of fundamental British values, and pupils demonstrate an understanding of democracy and healthy living.
Governors are aware of the challenges ahead and are holding leaders accountable for improving educational quality. Most staff feel supported by the new leadership team, appreciating efforts to manage their workload. The safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff trained to identify and respond to risks. Overall, while Kingsway Primary School has a nurturing environment and is making strides in improvement, significant work remains to address gaps in learning and behavior issues.
