Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Broadfields Primary School on 11 June 2019, following its previous judgment of good in May 2015. The leadership team has successfully maintained the quality of education, demonstrating clear responsibilities and effective collaboration to enhance pupils' learning. Professional development for staff is prioritized, ensuring they remain updated with best practices. The low turnover of staff has contributed to consistency in teaching quality. The inspection confirmed that leaders have effectively addressed previous recommendations, with pupils reporting that they understand and utilize teacher feedback to improve their work. Teachers provide clear explanations of key concepts, which has resulted in strong progress in reading, writing, and particularly mathematics at key stage 2.
The school has made strides in ensuring that the differences in progress rates among various pupil groups, including boys, girls, and disadvantaged pupils, are minimal. Increased challenges for higher-achieving pupils have further enhanced their progress. However, progress in the wider curriculum is not as robust as in English and mathematics. The leadership team has worked to integrate reading, writing, and mathematics skills across subjects and has plans to deepen pupils' understanding of subject-specific knowledge.
Broadfields Primary School is recognized for its inclusive and welcoming environment, fostering pupils' personal and social skills, which in turn strengthens their aspirations for future success. The school offers diverse opportunities that contribute to pupils' well-being, and parents express high levels of satisfaction with the care and learning provided.
Safeguarding measures are effective, with the leadership team ensuring that arrangements are thorough and of high quality. Regular training keeps staff informed about potential risks, and there is a culture of vigilance regarding safeguarding concerns. Pupils are educated on how to stay safe, including responsible internet use, which promotes their confidence in learning without undue worry.
The inspection focused on how leaders sustain high progress rates in mathematics, where the school has excelled compared to national averages. Staff have received extensive support to enhance their mathematics teaching, resulting in well-planned activities that cater to pupils' needs. The second focus was on improving the proportion of pupils making good progress, with evidence showing that most pupils are achieving well. Teachers monitor progress closely and provide targeted support to address any learning gaps.
The final focus was on evaluating progress in the wider curriculum. While there have been improvements in applying learning from English and mathematics to other subjects, pupils generally demonstrate less detailed understanding in the wider curriculum compared to core subjects. The next steps for the school include ensuring that pupils' work in the wider curriculum reflects the same level of precision and detail as their learning in English and mathematics. The inspection findings will be shared with relevant stakeholders, and the letter will be published on the Ofsted website.
