Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Henry Moore Primary School on 31 October 2018, following its previous judgment of good in February 2012. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team, under the guidance of Mrs. Mary Evans, has effectively upheld the standards set during the last inspection. Staff and parents hold the leadership in high regard, with all teaching and non-teaching staff expressing pride in being part of the school community. Feedback from parents, although limited, was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the school's supportive environment and the outstanding care provided to students.
Since becoming an academy in 2015, the school has successfully addressed previous areas for improvement. The leadership team possesses a clear understanding of the school's strengths and areas needing development, and staff are actively engaged in enhancing pupil outcomes. Safeguarding measures are robust, ensuring a safe learning environment for all students. Staff are diligent in maintaining records and following procedures, and pupils report feeling safe at school. The school collaborates effectively with external agencies, demonstrating a strong commitment to safeguarding.
The inspection focused on several key areas, including the implementation of the curriculum and its impact on pupil outcomes. The curriculum is rich and stimulating, with subject leaders demonstrating expertise and effectively training their colleagues. Pupil progress is closely monitored across various subjects, and parents appreciate the engaging methods used to bring the curriculum to life. The early years provision has seen significant improvement, with a focus on enhancing children's speech and language development. However, there is a need for all early years staff to raise their expectations of what children can achieve.
The school has made strides in sharing best practices among staff, particularly in mathematics teaching. Middle leaders play a crucial role in facilitating this sharing, leading to improved teaching methods across the curriculum. The school has established successful partnerships with other schools, which have contributed to the exchange of ideas and practices.
The inspection also examined the progress of different pupil groups, particularly those who had not performed well at the end of key stage one. The school has been effective in identifying barriers to learning and providing targeted support, resulting in significant progress for lower-attaining pupils by the end of key stage two. While disadvantaged pupils achieve expected standards, there is a need to support them in reaching greater depth, especially in writing.
Next steps for the school include raising expectations for all staff in the early years to ensure children can achieve their potential more rapidly. Additionally, current efforts to improve outcomes in key stage one should lead to stronger progress for all pupils, with a focus on consistently exceeding national averages in reading, writing, and mathematics. The school is encouraged to continue spreading successful approaches and raising expectations for both staff and pupils.
The inspection findings reflect a school that is committed to continuous improvement, with a strong leadership team and dedicated staff working collaboratively to enhance the educational experience for all pupils. The positive feedback from parents and the effective safeguarding measures in place further underscore the school's commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for learning.
