Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Parkfield Primary School on 6 March 2019, following its previous judgment of good in July 2015. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team, including the headteacher and deputy headteacher, provides effective leadership and has developed a strong team that supports improvements across various areas of responsibility. The governing body and trust leaders demonstrate a solid understanding of the school community's needs, contributing to the school's ongoing development. The leadership has high aspirations for pupils, focusing on equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills for their future education. The nurturing ethos established by the staff fosters high expectations for pupil achievement, resulting in excellent behavior and a calm learning environment. Pupils express happiness in attending school and appreciate the engaging curriculum, with many stating that it is a fun and perfect place for learning.
Progress in reading and writing has improved, although overall attainment remains below average. Disadvantaged pupils receive effective support, and the pupil premium grant is utilized to help close attainment gaps, with these pupils performing better than their peers in 2018. Teaching quality has improved, with leaders regularly monitoring and supporting teachers to enhance their practice, leading to greater consistency in teaching reading, writing, and mathematics. The school has effectively addressed previous areas for improvement, particularly in providing for the most able pupils, although some still require more challenge.
Governors bring diverse expertise and maintain high ambitions for the school, ensuring a balance of challenge and support for leaders. The Elliot Foundation multi-academy trust has also provided additional support to facilitate ongoing improvements. Safeguarding measures are effective, with staff ensuring pupils feel safe and secure. The designated safeguarding lead collaborates with external agencies to support vulnerable pupils, and staff are well-trained in safeguarding procedures.
The inspection focused on the impact of leadership on improving mathematics outcomes, as previous years showed below-average attainment at the end of key stage two. Strong leadership in mathematics has led to enhanced teaching quality, with pupils regularly developing their fluency in the subject. While there is evidence of improvement in standards, particularly at key stage one, further consistency in teaching reasoning skills is needed. The second area of focus was the effectiveness of writing improvements. The school has redesigned its writing curriculum to provide more opportunities for extended writing across subjects, resulting in increased pupil engagement and improved progress.
The final focus was on reading skills development. Standards in reading have improved, with attainment at the end of Year 2 being broadly average. The introduction of high-quality texts has enriched pupils' exposure to various authors and genres, enhancing their vocabulary and comprehension. However, many pupils still do not read widely outside of school. Next steps for the school include ensuring consistent teaching of reasoning in mathematics, supporting parents to encourage a broader range of reading at home, and further developing the curriculum to inspire writing quality. The inspection findings highlight the school's strengths and areas for continued growth, emphasizing the commitment to improving pupil outcomes across all subjects.
