The recent visit by Ofsted to Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School in Yeadon, Leeds, provided valuable insights into the school's response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The visit, conducted on October 1, 2020, was part of Ofsted's focused work to assess how schools are managing the return to full education following the disruptions caused by the pandemic.
The visit was not a formal inspection but rather a review under Section 8 of the Education Act 2005, aimed at gathering insights into the current state of education in schools across England. With routine inspections temporarily suspended, Ofsted is conducting these visits to understand how schools are adapting to the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Key findings from the visit include:
- The school reopened to all pupils on September 8, 2020, with a positive response from the school community, as attendance has been slightly higher than the same period last year.
- The leadership team has prioritized the personal, social, emotional, and health education of pupils, as well as essential subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics, leading to a temporary reduction in the curriculum for other areas.
- Teachers have been instructed to assess pupils' phonics knowledge to identify any gaps that may have emerged during the school closures, with additional support provided to those who need it.
- School leaders are addressing missed content by implementing quizzes in subjects like history and geography to gauge what pupils can recall, and considering how to deliver curriculum subjects remotely if necessary.
The visit concluded without any significant concerns, and the insights gathered will contribute to Ofsted's national reporting on the education sector's response to the pandemic. The leadership at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School is actively working to ensure that pupils receive the support they need during this challenging time, with a clear plan to return to the full curriculum by summer 2021.
This letter will be published on the Ofsted website, ensuring transparency and providing valuable information to parents and the wider community about the school's current status and future plans. For further details, the full report can be accessed on the Ofsted website.
