Significant Improvement Needed At Sutton Primary School, Ofsted Say

SUTTON Primary School requires significant improvement, according to Government inspectors. However, the team from Ofsted said there was no complacency and the school was beginning to move in the right direction. But they gave the school a notice to impr

SUTTON Primary School requires significant improvement, according to Government inspectors.

However, the team from Ofsted said there was no complacency and the school was beginning to move in the right direction.

But they gave the school a "notice to improve" in relation to pupils' achievement, in writing and science, and the use of assessment information.

Inspectors acknowledged that a large number of staff changes in recent years had disrupted the quality of the pupils' education and slowed their progress but they praised head teacher Gill Gilbert for her "sound" leadership, which they said was based on an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and main areas for improvement.

The inspectors' report said: "The management of teaching and learning is now secure, based on regular, accurate monitoring by senior staff and the positive impact of the team leader in each key stage."

Inspectors stressed that there were common strengths in teaching throughout the school, such as the relationships between staff and pupils and the work of teaching assistants.

The inspectors added: "The care, guidance and support for pupils are of good quality, centred on the positive relationships that prevail between pupils and staff and with one another. As a result, pupils feel safe and their behaviour is good. They show positive attitudes to learning in lessons and they make a good contribution to the school and local community. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good."

Inspectors also highlighted important strengths in the arts, music and in the personal, social and health education curriculum.

The report concluded: "The school's leaders and managers are committed to improving the school. The better focus on tracking pupils' progress, the checks taking place on the quality of teaching and the growing contribution of team leaders indicate that the school has the capacity to improve further."

Mrs Gilbert said: "We are naturally disappointed that the Ofsted team of inspectors did not fully acknowledge the efforts of all the teaching and support staff and pupils to raise the levels of attainment and pupil progress.

"The school has been working with the county council's inspectors and consultants since September 2009 and will continue to do so as part of the Improving Schools Programme.

"The staff and governors at the school were pleased to see that the inspectors did agree with the school's own judgements on a number of key areas including Early Years, pupil behaviour and the contribution our pupils make to the school and its wider community.