Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of Grove Primary School on November 21 and 22, 2023, following its previous inspection in March 2022, which deemed the school to require special measures. The purpose of this monitoring inspection was to assess the progress made by the school since the last graded inspection. The inspection team, including Ofsted Inspector Sarah Steer, engaged with the headteacher, senior leaders, members of the interim executive board, and local authority representatives to discuss the actions taken to improve the school. They also conducted lesson visits, spoke with parents, pupils, and staff, and reviewed pupils' work and various documents.
The findings indicate that while progress has been made, further work is necessary for the school to be removed from special measures. The leadership team has maintained a strong focus on improvement, with members demonstrating a clear understanding of their roles and collaborating effectively. Recent staffing changes include the appointment of a new mathematics subject leader, and the previous mathematics leader has taken on the role of special educational needs coordinator. Staff morale appears positive, with a shared commitment to enhancing the school.
The school has prioritized the development of its curriculum, with improvements noted in the embedding of a commercial scheme of work. Curriculum leaders have clarified the knowledge expected of pupils in each subject, organized into curriculum pillars. While these changes are positively impacting the school, there is still work to be done to ensure that subject-specific knowledge is communicated more clearly to pupils. Leaders are aware of this and plan to refine the curriculum further.
Subject leaders are receiving training and support to enhance their effectiveness in monitoring educational quality. The monitoring approach is well-organized and informs school development planning. However, leaders have primarily focused on the quality of teaching rather than assessing the impact of the curriculum on pupils' knowledge, which is still in the early stages.
Many pupils are not yet meeting the expected knowledge standards, as reflected in weak outcomes in key stage tests. Leaders are committed to helping pupils catch up, but the assessment of pupils' progress through the curriculum is not fully implemented. While teachers check understanding during lessons, there is no comprehensive approach to track how well pupils retain knowledge over time, making it challenging to identify and address learning gaps.
The school has a solid phonics teaching approach, but some pupils are not reading as well as expected. Recent training has been provided to sharpen early reading practices, with a focus on helping struggling pupils catch up.
Improvements have also been made in supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The SEND register now accurately reflects pupils' needs, and education, health, and care plans are regularly reviewed. Some parents have noted positive changes in the school's provision for SEND, although further improvements are needed to align SEND targets with the curriculum's intent.
Efforts to promote positive behavior and attendance are beginning to yield results, with pupils generally understanding school rules and behaving well. Attendance patterns show improvement, and leaders aim to continue raising expectations to enhance the learning culture.
The interim executive board is committed to the school's improvement, reviewing various information to evaluate effectiveness. They have focused on ensuring staffing continuity and supporting leaders' well-being, which has brought stability. However, there is a need for greater emphasis on evaluating the curriculum's impact on pupils' knowledge retention.
Support from the local authority has been beneficial in developing staff curricular expertise, positively impacting the school's improvement efforts. Overall, while progress has been made, significant work remains to ensure that Grove Primary School meets the required standards for removal from special measures.
