INSPECTORS say a Fishponds school is “welcoming, nurturing and inclusive” – but needs attention in several key areas, including pupils’ behaviour.
Ofsted visited Fishponds CE Primary School (above) in Fishponds Road in July, for the first time since the regulator introduced a more complex grading system.
It was also the first inspection since the school was transferred to a new operator, after the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust shut down last year.
A team of three inspectors said the school, which has 330 pupils aged four to 11, meets Ofsted’s expected standard in three areas: curriculum and teaching, Early Years and inclusion.
They said four areas need attention: achievement, attendance and behaviour, leadership and governance, and personal development and well-being.
The inspectors said: “This Church of England school is welcoming, nurturing and inclusive.
“Staff ensure that all pupils, including those in the special educational needs unit and the school’s inclusion base, feel safe, happy and ready to learn.
“Pupils are benefiting from improvements to the curriculum and teaching that have been made since the school joined the Lighthouse Schools Partnership.
“However, too many pupils do not benefit fully from these improvements because they do not attend regularly.
“Some pupils lack respect and empathy towards others. They do not understand the need to be kind or tolerant to each other.”
The inspectors said the school’s leaders had “responded swiftly when they identified weaknesses in the curriculum”, prioritising basic skills and a consistent approach to teaching.
They said there have been “notable improvements” in the quality of teaching and achievement in the Early Years provision, for younger children.
Inclusion work praised
The inspectors praised work on inclusion at the school, where almost 30% of pupils have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and more than a third are eligible for free school meals.
They said: “Leaders are determined that financial disadvantage, social deprivation, not speaking English fluently or SEND must not be a barrier to success.”
Children who speak English as an additional language catch up quickly, the report found.
However, Ofsted said “too many pupils” leave the school lacking the knowledge they need, with disadvantaged pupils in particular not achieving well.
The inspectors said work to increase attendance and had not made enough difference, and too many pupils arrive late.
‘Discriminatory behaviour’
Inspectors said some pupils “do not behave well,” with discriminatory behaviour or harassment persisting.
The report said: “Some girls have experienced negative behaviour or misogynistic language from boys. Some pupils say they hear racist and homophobic language.”
Ofsted said the school should take “swift and effective action” to ensure pupils don’t use discriminatory language, develop their understanding of respect for all, strengthen work to promote higher attendance and ensure effective teaching practice is consistent for all pupils.
School is ‘moving in the right direction’
Lighthouse Schools Partnership Trust said the areas Ofsted had identified for attention “match our self-evaluation of areas to continue to improve on”.
The trust said: “The report reflects the journey the school has taken so far, and continues to be on, since joining us.
“We are pleased to see that the action taken so far is moving us in right direction, however there is still work to do and we’re committed to working together to keep making progress, so Fishponds Primary pupils can flourish.”
Head teacher Michelle Omoboni said: “As leaders at the school, we were saddened that the language used by a very few pupils was inappropriate and are committed to ensuring that greater work is completed on this.
“The overarching experience of our pupils, as noted by Ofsted, is that they feel safe, valued and well cared for at the school, however the school will work tirelessly to ensure that all pupils demonstrate and understand the respect that is required of them.
“Being a fully inclusive school means that children with a wide range of needs are welcomed here, and it can take time for some children with needs to fully understand and embody our high expectations.
“We remain committed to improving on areas that require attention swiftly and remain on an upwards trajectory to meeting this target, as demonstrated in our school development plan, Trust monitoring and strong Key Stage Two SATs results, which sit above national.”
Council director of education and skills Vik Verma said the report “recognises the significant work undertaken” and it was clear that leaders are taking action to address the priorities for improvement.