Newman School in Rotherham recently received positive feedback in an Ofsted monitoring inspection conducted on January 30, 2024. The inspection was carried out to assess the progress made by the school since its previous judgment of requires improvement. The leadership team, led by Acting Headteacher Michaela Glarvey, effectively managed significant changes, including the completion of a new early years and primary school building. They maintained a focus on areas for improvement identified in the last inspection, ensuring minimal disruption to pupils and staff.
Significant strides have been made in enhancing the curriculum at Newman School. Leaders collaborated to identify core knowledge, vocabulary, and learning steps across subjects. This structured approach enabled staff to plan effective learning opportunities, particularly in the early years, establishing a clear progression from entry to the end of Key Stage 1.
The school implemented a comprehensive professional development program for staff, including accredited training and informal lightbite sessions. Staff reported positively on these initiatives, finding them relevant and manageable within their workloads. The introduction of a restorative approach to behavior management positively impacted student behavior, with the TAG team providing effective support for pupils who require additional assistance.
Newman School has found the support from the local authority invaluable in addressing its improvement needs. This partnership included external evaluations and ongoing support, which the school intends to continue as it prepares for its next inspection. While more work is needed for the school to achieve a good rating, the progress made since the last inspection is commendable.
The leadership team's commitment to improvement, along with positive feedback from staff and pupils, indicates a promising trajectory for the school. The findings from this monitoring inspection will be shared with relevant stakeholders and published on the Ofsted reports website. As Newman School continues to build on its successes, the community looks forward to further advancements in the quality of education provided to its students.
