Ofsted has said that New Bewerley Community School in Beeston ‘Requires Improvement’, despite ‘Good’ judgements in four out of five areas.
The school was inspected on 20 and 21 September and the report has been published today (17 October 2023).
The inspectors praise many aspects of the school describing it as:
“… more than a school to those who attend here. This school is a caring welcoming hub within the community. A place which values everyone.”
And:
“The school’s strength lies within its coherent and collaborative approach to developing all adults as leaders.”
Of the pupils, they say:
“Pupils in the school are curious and polite. They want to learn and are eager to do well. Pupils attend here with a diverse range of special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). These needs are met well. Pupils behave well.”
The report is critical of aspects of the quality of education, specifically maths and ensuring that children’s knowledge is embedded. However, it recognises that work is ongoing to improve this situation, stating:
“The school has taken clear and purposeful action to develop the curriculum. This work is still at an early stage in some subjects. Leaders are determined to continue to develop the learning offer in all subjects, for all pupils. The local authority is supporting the school with this work. In some subjects, such as early reading and art, these improvements have been implemented well. In other areas what pupils need to learn and how teachers deliver this knowledge is less well developed. For example, in mathematics pupils struggle to explain what they have been learning about. The school’s approach to checking pupils’ understanding of what they are learning is weak.”
New Bewerley’s Headteacher, Juli Aldwinkle, told South Leeds Life:
“We are pleased that the inspection report recognised our strengths, citing curious and polite pupils, and committed staff who have taken clear and purposeful action to develop the learning offer. We are proud that our school has been recognised as ‘a caring welcoming hub…a place which values everyone’; where ‘leaders have the highest expectations’; pupils behave well and a diverse range of SEND needs are met well. We are delighted to serve a diverse and vibrant community and the new leadership team are excited to drive a clear and rapid path for improvement in academic outcomes for all.”
Ofsted grades schools on a four point scale from Outsanding, to Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate. Primary Schools are graded across five categories:
- The quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
- Early years provision
You can read the full report here.
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