Moulsecoomb Primary School rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted

Moulsecoomb Primary School was inspected in April, and was given the lowest rating of ‘inadequate’ in a report published yesterday (May 23).

Concerns raised by inspectors included the quality of teaching, pupil’s attendance and ‘rough play’ in the playground.

But inspectors said early years provision was good, and the school was an ‘inclusive community’.

A summary of the inspection by Ofsted inspectors said: “Leaders’ and governors’ evaluation of the school is inaccurate. Their actions to raise standards are too slow to have sufficient impact on how well pupils achieve.

“Outcomes for pupils, including those in vulnerable groups, are inadequate overall.

“Pupils’ progress in key stage 2 is weak, especially in writing.

“The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate overall.

“Teachers’ expectations of pupils are too low. They do not hold pupils closely to account for the quality of their work. This prevents pupils from making the progress of which they are capable.

“Teachers’ subject knowledge is variable. At times, teachers provide pupils with inaccurate information. In some lessons, the resources provided prevent pupils from learning well.

“Pupils’ attitudes to learning are inconsistent. At times, pupils struggle to concentrate and give up quickly.

“At times, rough play on the playground escalates because staff are not quick to notice and do not intervene decisively to stop it.

“Too many pupils are persistently absent from school, particularly those from vulnerable groups. Levels of attendance have been too low in recent years.”

But inspectors did say: “The school is an inclusive community. Leaders know pupils and their families well, and staff work hard to meet pupils’ varying needs, both social and emotional.

“Children get off to a strong start in the early years and make good progress as a result of effective teaching.

“Improvements in teaching and the curriculum in key stage 1 are enabling pupils to make better progress than in the past. New approaches to the teaching of mathematics are also showing early signs of improvement.”

Moulsecoomb Primary School has been contacted for a comment.