Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Tortworth VC Primary School on 2 October 2018, following its previous judgment of good in April 2015. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team, under the headteacher's guidance, has shown care and determination in addressing challenges, particularly the high staff turnover in recent years. The headteacher has implemented supportive measures for new staff, ensuring they receive necessary training to enhance their effectiveness in the classroom.
Pupils expressed that teachers make lessons engaging, incorporating outdoor adventures into their learning. Parents echoed this sentiment, with all respondents to Parent View indicating they would recommend the school. The school has successfully fostered positive attitudes towards learning, with pupils actively participating and responding well to teachers' questions. The small class sizes, however, limit the ability to identify trends in assessment data. Despite this, there is a recognition that not enough pupils are achieving higher standards in mathematics by the end of key stage 2. The school is already addressing this issue, focusing on improving pupils' progress in mathematics and ensuring consistent challenges for key stage 2 students.
Improvements in assessment practices have led to more targeted teaching in reading, allowing most pupils to enhance their reading skills effectively. However, there are concerns regarding the assessment of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, as some have not made sufficient progress from their starting points. The governing body is committed to the community and ensures that pupil premium funding is utilized effectively to support disadvantaged pupils. However, they lack a comprehensive understanding of how to evaluate pupil progress, which limits their ability to identify school priorities and hold leaders accountable.
Safeguarding measures at the school are robust, with a strong culture of safety and effective training for all staff. The local authority's safeguarding audit was overwhelmingly positive, and pupils feel safe and happy at school. Their attendance exceeds the school's target, and incidents of poor behavior are rare. Pupils report that bullying is uncommon and that they trust adults to address any concerns promptly. The school promotes understanding of diversity and relationships through its curriculum and assemblies, with pupils actively engaging in democratic processes.
The inspection highlighted several strengths in the school's leadership and teaching. In reading, most children make strong progress, and the quality of teaching in key stage 1 is effective. However, teaching in key stage 2 is inconsistent, particularly in writing across subjects. Teachers need to raise their expectations for writing and ensure that pupils have opportunities to write at length. The school has begun implementing specific sessions for pupils needing to catch up, but these improvements are not yet fully reflected in independent work.
In mathematics, the school has identified key areas for improvement, particularly in reasoning and problem-solving skills. Teachers' expectations for pupil achievement need to be raised, and more precise planning is required to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs. The school is encouraged to continue strengthening its governance and assessment practices to enhance overall pupil progress and learning outcomes.
