OFSTED SAYS EAST COWES PRIMARY SCHOOL ‘NEEDS ATTENTION’ IN SEVERAL AREAS

An Isle of Wight primary school ‘needs attention’ regarding achievement, curriculum and teaching and leadership and governance, Ofsted has concluded.

Inspectors found inconsistencies in teaching at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School in East Cowes.

Holy Cross was previously marked ‘good’ for its overall effectiveness by the Catholic Schools Inspectorate last year.

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This time round, they awarded ‘strong standard’ grades for early years, personal development and wellbeing as well as ‘expected standard’ for attendance, behaviour and inclusion.

Headteacher Lucie Banks said the school is proud that Ofsted recognised the “caring, inclusive ethos”of Holy Cross and strong relationships between staff and pupils.

Ofsted said pupils enjoy coming to school and leaders ensure pupils are safe and receive the care and support they need to feel settled and ready to learn.

But its report also said that over time, the curriculum and teaching have been “less than secure”, meaning some pupils have not learned “as well as they should” and have not achieved the outcomes they were capable of.

Inspectors noted the school’s leaders are aware of this and have taken action to improve the curriculum. But Ofsted added that there are still some inconsistencies in teaching and some older pupils have “gaps in their learning” due to the improvements being recent.

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The report said:

“Pupils with disadvantages or vulnerabilities are well looked after through the school’s pastoral support.

“Leaders place pupils’ personal development at the heart of the school’s work. The school’s approach aligns with its values of kindness, confidence and excellence, which pupils demonstrate in their daily interactions.

“Pupils show polite manners and speak positively about their school, their peers and their teachers. Bullying is very rare, but when disagreements occur, pupils know that staff will support them.”

Identifying next steps for Holy Cross, the inspectorate said leaders and governors need to monitor, challenge and support the curriculum and pupils’ achievement with ‘greater rigour’ and ‘consistency’.

It also said leaders must ensure high-quality teaching is delivered consistently across the school and attendance remains consistently above national expectations for all pupils.

Mrs Banks said:

“Our children’s wellbeing, confidence and personal development are at the heart of our school.

“The report also identifies areas where further improvement is needed, particularly outcomes at the end of Key Stage Two. We fully accept this and have already put in place a range of actions to strengthen teaching, curriculum and assessment so that standards continue to rise.

“Our staff, pupils and governors are committed to moving the school forward, and we look to the future with confidence as we continue to build on the positive foundations already in place.”