Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection at Knowleswood Primary School on June 10, 2021, following four consecutive judgments of requires improvement. The inspection aimed to evaluate the actions taken by the school to improve since the last section 5 inspection. The findings indicate that leaders and governors are taking effective action to enhance the school’s performance. However, there are areas that require further attention, particularly in ensuring that improvement plans contain precise and measurable outcomes for better evaluation of progress.
Significant staffing changes have occurred since the last inspection, with several teachers and the early years leader leaving the school, while new staff have been appointed. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has also affected staffing levels, leading to temporary adjustments in pupil attendance. Despite these challenges, the school has maintained a focus on improvement, with leaders ensuring that the curriculum sets high expectations for all pupils. Subject leaders have identified key knowledge for pupils to learn, and curriculum plans outline what pupils should know and remember.
The quality of the curriculum in reading, writing, and mathematics has improved, with careful sequencing in mathematics aiding pupils' knowledge development. Staff training in phonics has been enhanced, resulting in better support for pupils in becoming confident readers. The curriculum now promotes a diverse range of faiths and cultures, addressing previous shortcomings in pupils' understanding of different subjects. Assessment practices have also been strengthened, with teachers checking pupils' understanding before progressing to new content.
Despite improvements, the school continues to face challenges with pupil attendance, which remains too high. The pandemic has hindered efforts to reduce absence, but leaders are actively monitoring attendance and working with local authorities and charities to engage families and improve attendance rates. During the inspection, pupils displayed good behavior in lessons, although some staff expressed concerns about the behavior of a small minority of pupils. Leaders are refining support systems for these pupils, particularly those with social, emotional, and mental health needs.
Governance has strengthened, with new governors bringing a broader range of expertise. Training for governors is enhancing their ability to assess leaders' actions, and they are beginning to ask more probing questions. While leaders have identified appropriate priorities for improvement, there are inconsistencies in how these priorities are broken down into actionable steps. Timescales for improvement are not always clearly defined, which complicates the assessment of progress.
The school benefits from support provided by the Cavendish and Knowleswood federation, including assistance from specialist leaders in education and staffing support. Collaboration with colleagues from the federation is helping to develop the curriculum further. The local authority has also provided a range of support to improve attendance, behavior, and writing skills, with external consultants aiding the establishment of the phonics program.
Overall, the inspection findings suggest that Knowleswood Primary School is making progress towards becoming a good school, but further work is needed to ensure that improvement plans are precise and measurable. The commitment of leaders and governors to address the challenges faced by the school is evident, and ongoing support from external partners will be crucial in sustaining this momentum.
