Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Manadon Vale Primary School on 2 April 2019, following its previous judgment of good in October 2013. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team, including governors and the chief executive officer of the Connect Academy Trust, has a clear and ambitious vision for the school. They demonstrate a strong understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for improvement, particularly through joint scrutiny of pupils’ workbooks. The academy trust has provided high-quality training for teachers, leading to significant improvements in collective leadership across the school. Middle leaders, including those in mathematics and English, provide effective support.
Governors are actively involved in the school and are committed to prioritizing pupils’ welfare in decision-making. They possess a deep understanding of the progress of different groups of pupils and challenge school leaders on variations in outcomes. Parents and carers are encouraged to engage with the school, and their feedback is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the supportive environment for their children’s academic and social development. The 2018 national curriculum assessments at key stage 2 indicated that most pupils made progress in reading, writing, and mathematics in line with national averages, with particularly strong progress in writing.
The early years provision is strong, resulting in more children achieving a good level of development in their foundation stage profile, now in line with national figures. Achievement in key stage 1 has also been strong, with attainment above the national average. However, there is recognition that a small group of low prior attaining pupils made slightly less progress in reading than the national average. The school has effective pastoral support in place, but the management of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities requires further development. Writing activities for these pupils are not always closely matched to their learning needs, impacting their progress.
Safeguarding practices are robust, with a strong culture of care throughout the school. Staff are well-trained in safeguarding procedures, and leaders work effectively with external agencies to ensure the safety of vulnerable pupils. Pupils feel safe and report minimal bullying, confident that staff address any concerns promptly. The inspection identified key areas for improvement, particularly in ensuring that staff receive adequate training to assess and plan writing activities for pupils with special educational needs.
The inspection findings highlighted the need for leaders to focus on the progress of low prior attaining pupils in key stage 2, particularly in reading and mathematics. Teaching assistants provide strong support, and pupils are becoming more confident in their reading and mathematics skills. The school’s monitoring systems are effective in identifying and addressing the progress of specific groups, including girls and the most able pupils. The current initiatives to improve attendance are recent, and their impact is yet to be fully realized. Overall, the inspection concluded that while the school is performing well, there are areas that require attention to ensure all pupils achieve their full potential.
