Schools pledge to improve after damning reports by inspectors

Shawlands Primary in Barnsley has been found to have serious weaknesses in a damning report which criticises the achievement of pupils and some of its teaching.

In its previous inspection in 2007 it had been given a top rating, with staff and governors hailed as “models of excellent practice”.

It is one of two schools in the town to be judged to be inadequate by Ofsted this week, along with Hoyland Springwood Primary, which has been placed in special measures.

Inspectors say teaching at this school is inadequate and they warn that a minority of challenging children’s behaviour is not managed well enough to ensure all pupils are kept safe.

The Shawlands report, published yesterday, warns standards in reading, writing and maths has fallen “substantially” since the previous inspection.

It says many pupils are underachieving in years one and two and warns that the more able pupils, those from disadvantaged backgrounds and disabled children are all making inadequate progress.

The achievement of pupils is found to be inadequate while in the other key inspection areas quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils, and leadership and management Shawlands requires improvement. However the report also says major changes to school leadership and governance has already led to improvements in teaching, learning and pupil achievement in the past two terms.

The report into Hoyland Springwood rates the school as inadequate in all the key inspection areas. It highlights maths, especially in years three and four as being a concern. It also says some poor quality marking in the subject often adds to pupils’ confusion.

Senior leaders in the school are criticised for not taking effective action in ensuring pupils are kept safe. It says parents “rightly complain” they are not informed when their children are hurt when more challenging pupils get angry. It warns that staff are not always able to intervene quickly enough to calm them before other children get hurt.

Both schools have sought to reassure parents that they will address the concerns raised by Ofsted. A statement from Shawlands said: “In response to a number of areas of weakness identified in a recent inspection of Shawlands Primary by Ofsted, all staff and governors are committed to addressing these immediately in order to bring about swift and sustained improvement. We are pleased the inspection team has recognised substantial and recent changes to the leadership, management and governance of the school and the improvements that have taken place in teaching, learning and children’s achievement in the last two terms.

“We will work with urgency on all the areas of improvement identified by Ofsted in the coming weeks, and keep parents and carers fully informed of our progress to address the issued identified by inspectors.”

Hoyland Springwood School’s head teacher Jane Siddall said: “The governors and all staff at Hoyland Springwood Primary are disappointed by the Ofsted inspectors’ findings, but the outcomes are being taken very seriously by everyone connected with the school.

“The whole school community, supported by the local authority, and our outstanding partner school at Worsbrough, will spare no effort in continuing the work of ensuring all issues are tackled rigorously and improved upon swiftly. The school will co-operate fully with regular monitoring inspections from Ofsted, and keep parents fully informed of the school’s progress to improve outcomes for all children.”