On 6 October 2020, Ofsted conducted a visit to Harris Primary Academy Beckenham, led by Her Majesty’s Inspector Madeleine Gerard. This visit was part of Ofsted's initiative to assess how schools are managing the return to full education following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 the principal and senior leadership team regarding the school's actions since the full reopening of schools in September 2020.
The school reopened to pupils in Years 1 to 5 on 3 September 2020, with Reception class children starting on 4 September. A few pupils were attending part-time to help them transition back into school routines. The attendance rate at the time of the visit was reported to be normal for the season, with only a small number of pupils isolating due to health protocols.
During the visit, it was noted that the school had made adjustments to its curriculum delivery. Music and design technology sessions were reorganized to ensure that students could still engage with the usual curriculum content. Changes were also made to the teaching of science and physical education, with plans to return to the standard curriculum by the spring term of 2021. Teachers had modified their lesson plans to help students catch up on learning that was missed during the previous terms when the school was not fully operational.
The visit highlighted that pupils had completed a writing assessment, which allowed teachers to focus on improving sentence structure and writing length. In mathematics, assessments indicated gaps in pupils' knowledge, particularly in areas such as shape, time, and fractions. To address these gaps, pupils engaged in 'early work' upon arrival at school. Additionally, since September, students had more opportunities to read during the school day due to changes in lunchtime arrangements, and they were provided with a diverse range of reading materials to support their literacy development.
A small number of pupils were accessing the curriculum through the school's online learning platform, and leaders had established remote learning guidance for students and parents. Staff were receiving training to prepare for the possibility of teaching online lessons in the future.
The insights gathered from this visit 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 visit did not reveal any significant concerns regarding the school's operations or its response to the challenges posed by the pandemic. The principal and the leadership team were commended for their efforts in adapting the curriculum and supporting students' learning during this unprecedented time.
The letter summarizing the visit will be shared with various stakeholders, including the chair of the board of trustees and the regional schools commissioner, and will be published on the Ofsted website for public access. The information gathered during this visit is intended to help shape future educational policies and practices in response to the ongoing challenges faced by schools across the country.
