Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of Stanley Common C of E Primary School on November 8 and 9, 2023, following its previous designation of serious weaknesses in November 2022. The purpose of this inspection was to assess the progress made by the school since the last graded inspection. The inspection team, including Ofsted Inspector Janis Warren, engaged with the executive headteacher, staff, governors, and local authority representatives to discuss the actions taken to improve the school. They also reviewed curriculum areas, visited lessons, examined pupils' work, and considered various school documents, including self-evaluation and improvement plans.
The findings indicate that Stanley Common C of E Primary School remains inadequate and has serious weaknesses. The leadership has not made sufficient progress in improving the school since the last inspection. Significant changes in leadership occurred after the previous headteacher's departure, leading to an interim leadership team until the current executive headteacher took over in September 2023. Staffing and governance have also faced challenges, with several resignations and a lack of sufficient governors to ensure effective governance.
Despite some efforts to address the issues identified in the previous inspection, the school has not secured adequate improvements in key areas such as curriculum, provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), safeguarding, and personal development. Although the executive headteacher has begun to tackle these issues with urgency, the work is still in its early stages. A new phonics program is planned, but no improvements in reading have been observed since the last inspection. Staff have not received adequate training in phonics instruction, leading to inconsistencies in teaching practices and pupil support.
Mathematics education also remains a concern, with gaps in pupils' knowledge due to inconsistent implementation of the school's chosen mathematics scheme. The school is working to enhance the quality of mathematics teaching, but these improvements are still in their infancy. Additionally, the early years curriculum does not adequately meet children's needs, and there is a recognized need for development in this area.
Pupils with SEND continue to face challenges, as their individual plans are not effective. Leaders have initiated an action plan to improve SEND provision, but this work has only just begun. The local authority's improvement plan was implemented too slowly, and the new improvement plan established by the executive headteacher is ambitious but requires sharper timelines for rapid progress.
Governors are committed to improving the school, but the current number of governors is insufficient for effective governance. The lack of capacity must be addressed to hold leaders accountable for the quality of education. Safeguarding arrangements are also inadequate, with incomplete records and insufficient training for staff on specific safeguarding issues, leaving them ill-equipped to ensure pupil safety.
The school is beginning to benefit from support from a local multi-academy trust, which understands the necessary steps for improvement. However, this support is still in its early stages. Overall, while there are some positive intentions and plans in place, significant challenges remain for Stanley Common C of E Primary School to achieve the necessary improvements and address the serious weaknesses identified by Ofsted.
