Forest Hills Primary School, located in Rugeley, Staffordshire, underwent an inspection on September 12 and 13, 2023. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, with specific areas such as the quality of education, leadership and management, and early years provision also receiving similar ratings. However, the school demonstrated strengths in behavior and attitudes, as well as personal development, both of which were rated as good.
The headteacher, Sarah Powell, leads the school, which is part of the Perry Hall Multi-Academy Trust. This partnership means that the trust shares responsibility for the school's management, overseen by CEO Amarjit Cheema and a board of trustees chaired by Andrew Brocklehurst. The school has experienced significant changes and is in the process of implementing improvements to its curriculum to enhance student learning.
Pupils, parents, and staff express a sense of happiness and safety within the school environment. The community acknowledges the positive changes that have occurred and recognizes the need for further improvements. The curriculum has been revised to better support pupils in building on their prior knowledge, and while some progress has been made, certain aspects of the curriculum are not yet fully embedded, which affects the learning of some students.
Behavior among pupils is noted as a strong point, with students learning without distractions and maintaining positive relationships. Parents report that issues of poor behavior have diminished, allowing their children to focus on learning. Pupils feel secure in sharing any concerns with trusted adults, who provide necessary support. The school encourages community involvement, offering opportunities for pupils to engage in charitable activities and develop citizenship skills.
Despite recent improvements, the school faces challenges in ensuring that all pupils achieve their potential. The curriculum, while improved, has only recently been introduced, and gaps in knowledge remain due to previous staffing instability. In subjects where the curriculum is more established, such as mathematics, the impact on pupils' understanding is evident. However, consistency across all subjects is still a work in progress.
The teaching of reading is evolving, with staff selecting books to enhance the curriculum and vocabulary development. Regular reading sessions are helping pupils comprehend texts better, and phonics instruction has been improved. Nevertheless, some weaker readers continue to struggle with decoding words, hindering their progress toward fluency.
In the early years, a new curriculum has been introduced, but its recent implementation means that children are not yet achieving at the expected levels for their age. The school is committed to enhancing early years provision to ensure that all children make good progress.
Leadership development is ongoing, with senior leaders working closely with staff to provide training and support. However, the recent changes in leadership have impacted the development of the leadership team. The school is focused on building leadership capacity to sustain improvements.
Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities receive effective support, allowing them to access the curriculum alongside their peers. The school collaborates with external agencies to enhance support for these pupils and is working to engage parents in the review process.
Overall, while Forest Hills Primary School has made strides in improving its educational offerings, it recognizes the need for continued development in curriculum implementation, reading instruction, and leadership to ensure that all pupils achieve their full potential. The commitment to fostering a positive school culture and community involvement remains a priority as the school moves forward.
