Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Banwell Primary School on December 5, 2017, following its previous judgment of good in March 2014. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team, under the guidance of Headteacher Mrs. Claire Pocock, has a clear vision that is shared by staff and governors, ensuring that all pupils receive the best possible education. The school has taken urgent actions to improve pupil progress, particularly in key stage 1, despite facing staffing challenges. High-quality teaching has been secured through effective recruitment and purposeful staff deployment, leading to good achievement across subjects.
The school has made significant strides in enabling staff to share best practices and has provided various training opportunities to enhance teaching quality. A new approach to mathematics teaching has been introduced, which has increased the level of challenge for the most able pupils, resulting in more students on track to exceed expected standards. However, the leadership acknowledges that further work is needed to fully develop pupils' mathematical thinking.
Attendance, which was previously a concern, has improved significantly, with most pupils now attending regularly and being punctual. The school collaborates closely with professionals to support families and promote consistent attendance, leading to current figures that exceed national averages. Following disappointing writing results in key stage 1 in 2017, the school has implemented effective strategies to enhance standards. The introduction of high-quality texts has inspired pupils to write, and improvements in phonics instruction are positively impacting reading standards. However, some pupils still struggle to apply their phonics knowledge in writing, leading to spelling errors.
A notable strength of Banwell Primary is the enthusiasm pupils exhibit for their learning. The staff's deep understanding of pupils' capabilities allows for the creation of a varied and engaging curriculum that fosters a love of learning. Pupils express appreciation for their teachers, describing them as supportive and effective in helping them grasp new concepts.
Safeguarding measures at the school are robust. The leadership and governors prioritize pupil safety, establishing a vigilant culture and ensuring that policies are regularly reviewed and updated. Recruitment procedures adhere strictly to statutory guidelines, and staff receive appropriate training to identify potential risks. The school maintains detailed records and collaborates with other agencies to support vulnerable pupils, ensuring they receive necessary care and assistance.
During the inspection, discussions with the headteacher focused on the school's progress since the last inspection. The inspection team explored how well the most able pupils are challenged in mathematics, the effectiveness of leadership in improving writing and phonics achievement in key stage 1, and the school's safeguarding practices. It was noted that while the most able pupils meet expected standards in mathematics, there is room for improvement in exceeding them. Teachers are increasingly planning lessons that develop pupils' fluency and understanding, positively impacting their mastery of mathematical concepts.
In writing, the school has invested in staff training and moderation to enhance the quality of pupils' work. Observations indicated that standards are rising, with pupils producing imaginative writing that demonstrates improved grammar and punctuation. However, spelling mistakes still hinder some pupils' progress toward achieving the highest standards.
Phonics instruction is well-organized, leading to more pupils being on track to meet the expected standard in the Year 1 phonics screening check. The effective teaching of phonics is contributing to pupils' fluency and comprehension in reading.
Moving forward, the school leadership and governors are encouraged to focus on further developing pupils' mathematical reasoning skills to enable them to tackle more complex problems. Additionally, continued improvement in writing, particularly in spelling, is essential for key stage 1 pupils. The inspection findings highlight the school's commitment to providing a high-quality education and the ongoing efforts to address areas for improvement.
