Crosslee Community Primary School in Blackley, Manchester, underwent an inspection on November 8 and 9, 2022, which resulted in an overall effectiveness rating of inadequate. The inspection revealed significant shortcomings across various aspects of the school, including the quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision, all of which were rated as inadequate. This marked a stark decline from the previous inspection in February 2017, where the school was rated as good.
The report highlighted that the school does not provide an acceptable standard of education. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, are underachieving significantly. The curriculum is poorly designed and fails to meet the learning needs of students. Leaders have low expectations for pupil achievement, resulting in a lack of essential knowledge and skills necessary for future educational success. Disruptions in lessons are frequent, and behavior management by staff is ineffective, further impeding learning.
While pupils appear happy at school, many expressed feelings of unsafety in certain areas due to unruly behavior. The prevalence of derogatory language and bullying incidents is concerning, with pupils lacking confidence in the school's ability to address these issues effectively. Although there are some positive aspects, such as spacious outdoor grounds and after-school clubs, the overall personal development program is ineffective and does not adequately prepare pupils for life in modern British society.
The leadership and governance of the school have not been effective in addressing the decline in educational quality. There is a lack of an ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils, and recent attempts to improve the situation have not yet shown any impact. Teachers are unclear about what to teach, leading to disorganized lessons and gaps in pupils' knowledge. Furthermore, assessment practices are inadequate, preventing teachers from identifying and addressing misconceptions in learning.
The introduction of a new phonics program has been a positive step, but staff training remains insufficient, resulting in many pupils struggling with reading. This has a cascading effect on their ability to learn in other subjects. Pupils with special educational needs do not receive the necessary support, and their needs are often not identified in a timely manner.
Attendance rates are a concern, with some pupils not attending school regularly, which further exacerbates learning gaps. The personal development curriculum lacks depth, failing to educate pupils about diversity and tolerance, which has led to the use of discriminatory language among students.
The safeguarding arrangements are inadequate, with leaders not acting swiftly enough on reported concerns. This has resulted in some pupils feeling unsafe and at risk of harm. Governors have not fulfilled their statutory duties regarding safeguarding and have not maintained sufficient oversight of the school's operations.
In summary, Crosslee Community Primary School is currently facing significant challenges that require immediate and effective action from leaders and governors to ensure that pupils receive a quality education and feel safe and supported in their learning environment. The inspection has highlighted the urgent need for improvements across all areas of the school to reverse the current trajectory and provide a better educational experience for all students.
