Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Miriam Lord Community Primary School on 15 March 2018, following its previous judgment of good in July 2014. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team, under Mr. Bryan Harrison, has shown a commitment to welcoming all pupils and celebrating their diverse backgrounds. The governing body is effective in holding the leadership accountable, ensuring that new pupils settle quickly and make appropriate progress.
The school environment is harmonious, with staff and pupils working well together. Pupils exhibit calm and studious behavior, showing respect for their teachers, and disruptions to learning are rare. Following the last inspection, the school focused on improving teaching quality and raising achievement, particularly in reading and mathematics. New teaching methods in mathematics have been successfully implemented, leading to an increase in the number of pupils meeting expected standards. Progress in mathematics is now broadly in line with national figures.
In terms of reading, the school faced challenges, particularly in 2017, where progress was less secure. In response, the leadership introduced various measures, including a new reading scheme that engages pupils of all ages and abilities. Rigorous tracking of individual pupil progress has shown that more pupils are on track to meet age-related standards in both key stages. Safeguarding measures are effective, with up-to-date policies and procedures in place, ensuring pupils feel safe and secure.
The inspection focused on the effectiveness of reading promotion and attendance management. The school has invested in new reading materials and revamped the library to foster a positive reading culture. Events for parents have been organized to encourage reading at home, resulting in over 70% of pupils reading regularly outside school. However, while girls generally perform better in reading, the school is actively working to engage boys through targeted incentives.
Despite improvements, the school recognizes the need for further development in phonics, as attainment remains below national averages. The leadership is aware of the gap between boys and girls in phonics learning and is taking steps to address this. The early years provision has shown improvement, with more children on track to achieve a good level of development, although there is still a need for better planning to support early reading and writing skills.
Attendance has improved due to the efforts of the pastoral manager, who engages with families of absent pupils. However, persistent absence remains a concern, particularly due to some families taking extended breaks. The school is committed to working with parents to reduce this issue.
Next steps for the school include ensuring that a higher proportion of pupils are well-prepared for reading by enhancing early years planning, improving phonics teaching across all key stages, and providing opportunities for pupils to expand their vocabulary. The leadership team is dedicated to continuing their efforts to reduce persistent absence and enhance overall pupil outcomes. The inspection findings highlight the school's strengths while also identifying areas for further improvement, ensuring a focus on continuous development in the quality of education provided.
