Queen’s Park Primary School in Brighton, East Sussex, underwent an inspection from 13 to 14 September 2023, resulting in an overall effectiveness rating of Requires Improvement. The school has faced challenges that have impacted pupil achievement, leading to the current assessment. The new headteacher and leadership team have initiated decisive actions to address these issues, and staff morale is reportedly high as they embrace the changes.
Pupils at the school generally express happiness and feel safe, particularly the youngest children who have settled well into their new environment. There is a positive atmosphere, with warm relationships among pupils and staff. However, there are concerns regarding the consistency of behavior and learning across the school. While some improvements have been noted, many initiatives are still in the early stages of implementation, leading to variability in pupil behavior and engagement.
The school has made strides in enhancing its reading program, with staff receiving training and resources to prioritize reading. This has sparked increased interest among pupils, particularly in the early years, where children are excited about books and phonics instruction is effective. However, the curriculum lacks a coherent structure in some subjects, hindering pupils from building on prior knowledge and exploring concepts in depth. In mathematics, for instance, pupils struggle with foundational number concepts, which affects their understanding of lessons.
The school is also working to improve support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. While there is progress in identifying individual needs, teachers are not yet consistent in adapting lessons to ensure all pupils succeed. The leadership team recognizes the importance of providing further training and support to staff to enhance their pedagogical skills and subject knowledge.
Behavior management has seen some improvement since the introduction of a new policy, but it is not uniformly applied. Some pupils still find it challenging to learn independently, and attendance remains an area of concern, with not all pupils attending regularly. The school is actively promoting attendance and working to foster a culture of responsibility among students.
Personal development opportunities are present, but the personal, social, and health education curriculum lacks effective organization. While pupils learn about various faiths and equality, the overall coherence of the curriculum needs enhancement. Pupils enjoy participating in sports and community events, and they demonstrate an understanding of how to maintain safety and health.
The school is making efforts to strengthen communication with parents and the wider community, with parents acknowledging recent improvements. The governing body has received training to better hold leaders accountable for school performance, but they still need to develop a deeper understanding of how additional funding impacts pupil achievement, particularly for disadvantaged students.
The safeguarding arrangements at the school are effective, ensuring that pupils are protected and their welfare is prioritized. The inspection highlighted the need for a fully sequenced curriculum across all subjects, ensuring that teachers know what to teach and when. Continued support and training for staff are essential to address misconceptions and improve teaching quality. The leadership of individual subjects is still developing, and governors must enhance their oversight of resource allocation to support ongoing improvements. Overall, while there are positive aspects within the school, significant work remains to be done to achieve the desired standards of education and pupil development.
