The recent visit by Ofsted to St Andrew's Primary School in Bishop Auckland, County Durham highlighted the school's resilience and adaptation in the face of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The visit, conducted by Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI) Gill Wild and colleague Chris Smith, aimed to assess how the school managed the return to full education following the disruptions caused by the pandemic.
During the visit, discussions were held with Headteacher Nicola James, the deputy headteacher, and the literacy leader to gather insights into the school's operations and strategies since the full reopening mandated by the government in September 2020. The visit was part of Ofsted's broader initiative to understand how schools across England are navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic, with a focus on gathering insights to inform future policy and support for schools.
Key findings from the visit include the gradual reopening of the school, with a phased return for different year groups leading to full-time attendance by all pupils by September 14, 2020. The school has maintained communication with families to encourage their children's return, although attendance rates were noted to be lower than usual.
The school has ensured that pupils are accessing a full range of subjects, with teachers making adjustments to the sequencing of content in subjects like physical education and music to cover certain aspects later in the academic year. The goal is to return to the usual curriculum by summer 2021.
Recognizing the impact of the pandemic on learning, the school has prioritized improving reading and phonics understanding, with additional support provided to help pupils catch up. In mathematics, the focus is on reinforcing foundational concepts before introducing new content.
The school is committed to enhancing pupils' personal development and wellbeing, with teachers identifying gaps in knowledge and skills in subjects like history and science to address them in the future. Plans have been developed to deliver the curriculum remotely for pupils who are self-isolating, ensuring continuity of education.
HMI Wild expressed gratitude to Mrs. James and her team for their contributions to the national effort, emphasizing that the insights gained from the visit will help inform future educational policies. The letter detailing the findings will be published on the Ofsted website for transparency and accessibility to parents and the wider community.
As schools continue to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic, St Andrew's Primary School stands as a testament to resilience and commitment to providing quality education for all its pupils.
