On December 9, 2020, Ofsted conducted a visit to Abercrombie Primary School in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, to assess the school's response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This visit was part of a broader initiative by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to understand how schools are managing the return to full education after an extended period of disruption. The visit was not an inspection and did not involve graded judgments or the usual range of inspection activities, such as classroom observations or reviewing students' work.
During the visit, the inspector engaged in discussions with the headteacher, Tracey Gannon, to gain insights into the school's operations since the full reopening mandated by the government in September 2020. The context of the visit was significant, as many schools had faced challenges due to the pandemic, including periods of isolation for students and adjustments to the curriculum.
The visit revealed that many pupils had experienced interruptions to their learning, with approximately half of the students having to learn from home at some point during the autumn term. On the day of the visit, students from the Year 6 bubble had just returned from their second isolation period since September. The school had adapted its curriculum to ensure that students continued to study a broad range of subjects, although some activities, such as swimming and practical components in music and design technology, had been postponed to later in the academic year. The leadership team expressed their intention to return to the full curriculum by the summer term of 2021.
The inspectors noted that teachers had conducted assessments to identify gaps in students' learning, particularly among younger pupils who had forgotten some phonics knowledge essential for reading unfamiliar words. In response, teachers were providing additional phonics lessons to help these students catch up. For older pupils, assessments indicated a decline in reading comprehension skills, prompting teachers to offer more reading opportunities across the curriculum to support improvement.
In mathematics, teachers focused on reinforcing students' understanding of place value and number concepts. They dedicated extra time to revisit content that had been missed during the periods of remote learning. Some students received additional support after school to further assist their progress.
Physical health was also a concern, as the inspectors found that some students' fitness levels had declined during the time the school was not fully operational. The leadership team was proactive in ensuring that students received more opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day to address this issue.
To support students learning from home, the school had developed a comprehensive remote education program that included both online and paper-based resources. This program was aligned with the existing curriculum and utilized various online learning platforms to facilitate continued education for students unable to attend school in person.
The visit concluded with no significant concerns identified regarding the school's operations or its response to the challenges posed by the pandemic. The insights gained from this visit would contribute to Ofsted's national reporting, helping to inform the government and the education sector about the experiences of schools during this unprecedented time.
The headteacher expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share the school's experiences, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in navigating the challenges of the pandemic. The findings from the visit would be shared with relevant stakeholders, including the chair of the governing body and the regional schools commissioner, and the letter summarizing the visit would be published on the Ofsted website for public access.
Overall, Abercrombie Primary School demonstrated a commitment to maintaining educational standards and supporting students' learning and well-being during a challenging period. The leadership team's proactive measures and the dedication of the teaching staff were evident in their efforts to address the learning gaps and promote physical health among students. The school was well-positioned to continue its recovery and return to a full curriculum in the coming terms.
