On 17 November 2020, Ofsted conducted a remote visit to Redmile Church of England Primary School as part of its efforts to understand how schools are managing the return to full education following the COVID-19 pandemic. This visit was led by Her Majesty’s Inspector, Christine Watkins, and was part of a broader initiative to gather insights from a diverse range of schools across England. The visit was not an inspection and did not involve graded judgments or the usual range of inspection activities, such as classroom observations or reviewing students' work. Instead, it focused on discussions with school leaders about the actions taken since the full reopening of schools in September 2020.
During the visit, discussions were held with the Executive Headteacher, the head of school, the safeguarding leader, and leaders responsible for English and Geography. The visit aimed to assess how the school has adapted its curriculum and support systems in response to the challenges posed by the pandemic. It was noted that a small number of pupils had to learn from home since the start of the term, but the majority were engaged in their usual subjects. The school placed a greater emphasis on personal, social, and health education, while certain activities such as swimming and singing were temporarily suspended.
Leaders expressed their intention to return to the full curriculum by summer 2021. Teachers assessed pupils' starting points after the extended break in formal schooling, revealing that many students had fallen behind in key areas such as punctuation, spelling, grammar, and handwriting. To address these gaps, additional phonics sessions were provided for all year groups, and plans were made to enhance the reading resources available for pupils in Years 3 to 6.
In mathematics, it was observed that younger pupils had lost rapid recall of number facts, while older pupils exhibited knowledge gaps in multiplication, fractions, decimals, shapes, and measures. Staff organized targeted support for individuals and small groups to help bridge these gaps. In other subjects, teachers adjusted their planning to incorporate more repetition of key concepts, ensuring that pupils could reinforce their understanding.
The school also prepared resources for immediate use in case a class bubble needed to isolate unexpectedly. A remote education program was established, offering both online and paper-based materials aligned with the normal curriculum, ensuring continuity of learning for pupils who needed to isolate.
The visit concluded without any significant concerns being raised, and the information gathered will contribute to Ofsted's national reporting, which aims to inform the government and the education sector about the current state of education in England. The insights shared by the school will play a crucial role in shaping future educational policies and practices. The letter summarizing the visit will be published on the Ofsted website, ensuring transparency and accessibility for parents and the wider community. Overall, the visit highlighted the school’s proactive approach to addressing the challenges posed by the pandemic and its commitment to supporting the educational needs of its pupils during this unprecedented time.
