Ofsted regularly inspects schools and the aftermath of an inspection is a report which gets published online. The report shows how the inspectors rated the school on a number of key judgements.
All schools are rated on four judgements: the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and the leadership and management. Where applicable, a school will also be judged on the early years provision and the sixth form provision. Each judgement is given one of four ratings: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires Improvement’ or ‘Inadequate’.
Prior to September 2024, schools subject to graded inspections were given a one-word or two-word judgement which were generated by the judgements (noting that the quality of education was a limiting factor). But this process was scrapped and instead no judgement is given, although it can be inferred, and starting in the next academic year, schools will be given a report card.
Inspections are broken down into several different types, the most common being graded or ungraded inspections, which looks at safeguarding and the general standard of provision. There can also be a monitored inspection, which judges progress rather than the key judgements where a letter is published rather than a report, and an urgent inspection, which is triggered by a “specific concern in a specific school”.
In January, four schools in North Somerset were given a new Ofsted report. These schools fall under the North Somerset Local Authority.
Westhaven School – ‘Rated as ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ personal development
Westhaven School, on Ellesmere Road in Weston-super-Mare, was rated as ‘Outstanding’ in personal development and as ‘Good’ in the other key judgments. The special school, which caters for pupils aged between four and 18 years old, was previously rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ in 2022.
Staff at the school were described as “increasingly aspirational in their expectations of pupils” and the curriculum, which was redesigned, is “well-planned and ambitious”. Pupils say that staff are caring and keep them safe.
The wider development of pupils is promoted “exceptionally well”. Pupils enjoy a wide range of clubs, trips and leadership opportunities which enhance the school experience.
A strong sense of community benefits pupils, who develop a sense of belonging as a result. In some subjects, improvements to the curriculum need more time to be embedded.
Trinity Anglican-Methodist Primary School – Maintains ‘Good’ standards
Trinity Anglican-Methodist Primary School was inspected on December 17 and 18 and was judged to have maintained ‘Good’ standards which were identified in 2013. The inspection was the second ungraded inspection for the school, on Marjoram Way in Portishead, since 2013.
Pupils are “welcoming and friendly”, are proud of the school and confident speaking to visitors. The 412 pupils meet the high expectations set by the school for their achievement and conduct.
The primary school prioritises reading, beginning when pupils start school. Pupils who fall behind when learning phonics are supported to catch up quickly. There is a strong focus throughout the school on developing pupils’ language and vocabulary.
Pupils enjoy attending school and “this is reflected in their high attendance”. But in some subjects, the way the curriculum is taught does not always allow pupils who have secured their learning to not make as much progress as they could.
Mead Vale Community Primary School ‘ Rated as ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ early years provision
Mead Vale Community Primary School, on Kestrel Drive in Worle, was rated as ‘Good’ across the board with an ‘Outstanding’ early years provision. The primary school with 202 pupils was previously rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ in 2022.
Pupils’ behaviour was praised by Ofsted, who said pupils were “positive ambassadors” for the school. The report added that pupils are “sociable, well-mannered and friendly”.
The curriculum is “rich and broad” and in most subjects, teaching is strong and pupils achieve well. The early years curriculum is “particularly well designed” and prepares pupils for future learning.
Several parents and carers told inspectors about the family feel of the school. Sometimes, the school does not make effective use of assessments due to an insufficient account of pupils’ starting points.
Worle Community School – “Some aspects of the school need further improvement”
Worle Community School, on Redwing Drive, was subject to a monitoring inspection on January 9. The inspector’s judgement was: “Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but some aspects of the school need further improvement.”
The school was rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ in 2020 and 2023 and since the last inspection, additional senior leaders and new staff in a number of subject areas have been appointed. The secondary school has focused on improving the quality of education, but it is too soon to fully evaluate its impact.
School leaders are focused on making the right improvements and has valued support from external partners. The reading programme has been strengthened and some pupils are benefiting from the changes.
But further work in its provision is required for all pupils to benefit from the improvements. The letter added that “many of the school’s new approaches are in their infancy”.