School aims to improve after '˜disappointing' report

A headteacher said he was 'disappointed' after his school was told to improve by Ofsted.
Shelley Primary SchoolShelley Primary School
Shelley Primary School

Shelley Primary, in Wickhurst Lane, underwent a two-day inspection in February and the findings were published on Monday (March 20).

Now David Bird and his team intend to embrace the school motto – ‘working together to become even better’ – as they strive to regain their ‘good’ rating.

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Rating the school ‘requires improvement’, inspector Lesley Corbett said too many children were not “working at the expected standard” and teaching in some year groups did not meet pupils’ needs as well as it should.

She praised the work carried out to promote the personal development, behaviour and welfare of the children, describing them as “polite, well-mannered, friendly, and welcoming”.

When it came to the progress being made by pupils, Key Stage 2 data showed their writing to be below the national average. But Ms Corbett said Mr Bird and his team had already tackled that weakness and pupils were “catching up to where they should be”.

During the inspection, parents and pupils spoke highly of the school, with Ms Corbett reporting: “Pupils are overwhelmingly positive about the school. They enjoy coming to school and learning.” She added: “The headteacher’s warm and honest approach, along with his dedication to the school and pupils, inspires staff and governors to demonstrate the same commitment.

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“They support his ethos of ‘working together to become even better’. Parents appreciate and speak very positively of the high levels of care and support their children receive.”

Mr Bird said: “Although disappointed by the overall conclusion, Shelley Primary School acknowledges the findings of the recent Ofsted report.”

He said he and his team were “very pleased” the inspectors had recognised the school’s strengths, adding: “We were pleased, also, that the inspection found that the school accurately assesses its effectiveness and correctly identifies areas for improvement.

“All staff and governors are ambitious for the school and are committed to continue working to develop those areas identified in order to provide the best educational experience possible for our children.

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"We are particularly grateful for the continuing support of parents and the wider community as we ‘work together to become even better’.”

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