Ofsted conducted a subject inspection at Sacred Heart RC Primary School on 5 March 2020, focusing on the quality of Spanish language education. The inspection confirmed that the school maintains its overall effectiveness judgement of outstanding from the previous section 5 inspection. The purpose of this inspection was to gain insights into the quality of education in specific subjects at outstanding primary schools, with a particular emphasis on languages.
Spanish has been a significant part of the curriculum for several years, with Year 6 pupils having studied the language since Year 3. All key stage 2 pupils receive a weekly 30-minute Spanish lesson, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. The teaching of Spanish is coordinated by a specialist who is a native speaker, ensuring a high level of expertise in the delivery of the subject.
The curriculum plans for Spanish are well-structured and logical, guiding teachers on what to teach and in what order. This is especially evident in the areas of vocabulary and grammar. Pupils engage with a diverse range of topics throughout their time at the school. The specialist teacher possesses a strong understanding of language progression, and the curriculum aligns with the national curriculum's ambitions, particularly in grammar and sentence structure. However, there are some gaps in planning regarding the differences between English and Spanish spelling, which can lead to confusion in pronunciation among pupils.
Despite the clarity and precision of the curriculum planning, pupils struggle to retain the vocabulary and grammar taught in lessons. This lack of retention hinders their ability to build on their knowledge over time, resulting in confusion when lesson content becomes more complex. School leaders do not currently monitor the effectiveness of the Spanish curriculum delivery, which contributes to pupils only recalling basic vocabulary and engaging in limited conversational exchanges. While they can write simple paragraphs with support, their understanding of Spanish sentence structure remains weak, and they do not keep pace with the curriculum's ambitions.
Pupils do not have personal vocabulary records or books, except in Year 6, which complicates their ability to track what they are expected to remember. Additionally, class teachers do not consistently practice Spanish throughout the week, which would help reinforce vocabulary retention.
The school acknowledges the need for improvement in Spanish education. A senior colleague from another school is collaborating with the staff for two weeks as part of her professional development, focusing on enhancing the Spanish curriculum. This strategic move aims to address the identified gaps in language instruction.
The languages development plan is closely aligned with the overall school improvement strategy. The school considers pupils' feedback on the subject as part of its monitoring process. Plans for professional development in Spanish are in place, positioning the school well for continued growth in this area.
Sacred Heart RC Primary School is larger than average, with 315 pupils enrolled. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals and those with special educational needs is above average. The inspection findings highlight both the strengths and areas for development in the school's Spanish curriculum, emphasizing the need for ongoing support and monitoring to ensure that pupils achieve their full potential in language learning. The school is in a strong position to enhance its Spanish program and improve pupil outcomes in the subject.
