South Bristol primary school upbeat despite Ofsted deeming it requires improvements

A south Bristol primary school has welcomed the findings of its first Ofsted inspection despite the watchdog concluding it required improvement.

Inspectors visited Ashton Vale Primary School, on Avebury Road, in October. This was the school’s first inspection since it had become part of the Gatehouse Green Learning Trust which is also made up of Luckwell Primary, Compas Point Primary, Ashton Park Secondary and Redland Green Secondary schools.

Across October 11 and 12, Ofsted noted how pupils enjoyed attending Ashton Vale, which ‘lies at the heart of its community’, but added that ‘the quality of education that they receive is too inconsistent across all subjects’ with some pupils struggling to recall prior learning due to the curriculum structure.

Ofsted uses a four-tier grading system which, from best to worst, goes Outstand, Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate. Ashton Vale’s rating prior to joining the Gatehouse Green Learning Trust was Good. This has now been downgraded to Requires Improvement after the two-day review.

Inspectors believe the school needs to improve its quality of education as well as its leadership and management. The report said: “ Leaders have not fully implemented an effective curriculum across all subjects. The curriculum does not consistently build on what pupils have previously learned and understood. This slows the progress that pupils make. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is fully implemented so that pupils know more and remember more across all subjects.

“Several subject leaders are new to their roles. They have not yet been able to develop their checks on the curriculum. As a result, they do not know how the curriculum is being implemented in their subject. Senior leaders must ensure that subject leaders assure themselves that the curriculum is well implemented.”

The report also praised the school for the areas where it is achieving good results, specifically commenting on the school's work in the subjects of Reading and Maths.

Ofsted says that “Leaders prioritise reading. Pupils read a range of texts and talk positively about the books that adults read to them. Children begin learning to read as soon as they start in Reception. Staff teach phonics well.”

Headteacher, Brad Arthur, welcomed the recognition, stating: “Against the backdrop of covid and the associated challenges of the last few years, we are so proud that our pupils are happy and achieving good personal development at our school.”

A school spokesperson added: “We were pleased that Ofsted recognised the investment that has been made in the areas of quality of education and leadership and management, and that this investment has already begun to benefit areas of the curriculum.”

The full report can be accessed here: https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50201163