Ball Green Primary School, located in Stoke-on-Trent, underwent an inspection on 14 and 15 September 2022, resulting in an overall effectiveness rating of good. The school has made significant progress since its previous inspection, which rated it as requiring improvement. The quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision were all rated as good.
The school’s motto, Every child. Every chance. Every day, reflects its commitment to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for all pupils. Staff members are dedicated to ensuring that students receive the necessary help and support, fostering respectful relationships among pupils and between staff and students. This positive atmosphere contributes to pupils feeling happy and eager to attend school. The school maintains a calm and orderly environment conducive to learning, with positive attitudes towards education starting in Nursery and continuing throughout the school.
Pupils report feeling safe and secure, with minimal concerns about bullying. When issues arise, staff are quick to address them, ensuring a supportive environment. Leaders at Ball Green Primary have high expectations for student achievement, encouraging hard work and effort. From an early age, pupils are introduced to various career options through visits from professionals, which helps broaden their understanding of future possibilities.
The school emphasizes the importance of preparing pupils for life beyond the classroom. This is achieved through teaching responsible behavior and encouraging active citizenship, such as participating in charity fundraising and taking on roles within the school, like being part of the class or eco council. Pupils appreciate these opportunities, which contribute to their personal development.
Leaders have carefully considered the curriculum, placing a strong emphasis on language and vocabulary across all subjects. This focus is beginning to enhance pupils' literacy skills and reading abilities. All pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, have access to a broad range of subjects. Leaders ensure that the curriculum is well-planned and sequenced, leading to good progress in subjects where staff possess secure subject knowledge, such as English and history. However, there are areas for improvement, particularly in mathematics, where some pupils may finish their work early and have to wait for further instructions, potentially losing valuable learning time.
Professional development for subject leaders is a priority, with leaders providing effective training to enhance their skills. However, this support is more established in some subjects than others, resulting in variability in pupil progress across different areas of the curriculum. Despite being early in the school year during the inspection, Nursery children were already demonstrating positive behaviors for learning, with adults actively encouraging their development.
Reading is a key focus at Ball Green Primary, with daily shared reading sessions in all classes. Teachers utilize a diverse range of texts to engage pupils, and an effective reading program is in place, starting in Nursery. Staff have received training to deliver this program, and leaders regularly assess pupils' reading progress. Most pupils are developing into confident readers, with additional support provided for those who may fall behind.
Pupils enjoy a variety of learning experiences, including residential trips and career roadshows, which enhance their educational journey. The school promotes active lifestyles by offering various sporting activities and equipment for use during breaks. Mental health and well-being are also prioritized, with access to counseling services for pupils in need.
Staff members express high levels of satisfaction with the support provided by school leaders, particularly regarding workload management and collaborative planning time. This positive environment contributes to high staff morale. Governors are committed to the ongoing improvement of the school, providing a balance of support and challenge to leaders. They ensure that staff receive relevant training aligned with the school's improvement needs.
The safeguarding arrangements at Ball Green Primary are effective, with staff taking pupil welfare seriously and reporting concerns confidently. The safeguarding team collaborates effectively to ensure families receive appropriate support. Leaders conduct necessary checks on all adults working in or visiting the school, and pupils are educated on safety, including e-safety.
To further improve, the school needs to ensure that all subject leaders receive the necessary training and support to effectively develop their subjects. This will help address the current variability in curriculum implementation and ensure that all pupils can reach their full potential across all subjects.
