Eastfield Primary School, located in Thurmaston, Leicester, was inspected by Ofsted on October 24 and 25, 2023. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, along with the quality of education and behaviour and attitudes. However, personal development and early years provision were rated as good. This inspection marked the first routine evaluation since the school became an academy in 2016, following a long gap due to previous exemptions from routine inspections.
The headteacher, Timothy Gilbert, leads the school, which is part of the Bradgate Education Partnership Multi-Academy Trust. The trust provides support and oversight, with Gareth Nelmes serving as the chief executive officer and Stephen Cotton as the chair of trustees. The school has undergone significant changes recently, with many parents expressing appreciation for the improvements. However, there are concerns regarding the expectations for pupil achievement, particularly for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as the quality of the curriculum varies.
Pupils at Eastfield Primary School enjoy a variety of extracurricular activities, including sports leadership programs and carefully planned visits that enhance their learning experiences. The school has simplified its rules to focus on kindness and respect, which older pupils generally follow well. However, some younger pupils in key stage one struggle to comply with routines, affecting their learning environment.
The curriculum has been reorganized to align with national standards, but some areas remain incomplete or inconsistently implemented. Staff members sometimes lack the necessary subject knowledge to deliver the curriculum effectively, which limits pupils' ability to retain knowledge over time. While some teachers encourage vocabulary use and recall of prior learning, this practice is not consistent across all subjects or key stages. Additionally, errors in pupils' work are occasionally overlooked, particularly for those with SEND.
Reading is a strong focus at the school, with pupils showing a love for it even during social times. The school provides well-matched reading materials and effective early reading programs, ensuring that most pupils learn to read well. However, the specific needs of some pupils with SEND are not always clearly identified, and support documents lack precision, hindering their progress.
In the early years, children develop secure relationships and independence, benefiting from improved outdoor learning spaces. Despite this, behaviour routines are not consistently established in key stage one, leading to disruptions in learning. The school promotes values such as kindness and tolerance, and pupils feel welcomed regardless of their background. They learn the importance of mental health alongside physical well-being through various initiatives.
The trust has implemented systems to monitor attendance and punctuality, positively impacting school attendance. Staff members report enjoying their work and appreciate efforts to reduce their workload. Safeguarding arrangements are deemed effective, ensuring a safe environment for pupils.
To improve, the school must clearly identify the knowledge pupils need to learn and ensure consistent delivery of the curriculum. Support for pupils with SEND needs to be more precise, and the leadership of some subjects requires further development to enhance curriculum delivery. Additionally, behaviour expectations in key stage one must be consistently implemented to create a calm learning environment. Overall, while the school has made strides in certain areas, there are significant opportunities for improvement to enhance the educational experience for all pupils.
