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, seven schools in Bristol were given a new Ofsted report. These schools fall under the Bristol Local Authority. They were these:
Snapdragons Nursery Horfield – ‘Good’ across the board
Snapdragons Nursery Horfield, located within the former Horfield Barracks on Gloucester Road, retained its ‘Good’ rating following an inspection in November. The nursery provides education for 230 people and won praise from Ofsted for its “engaging curriculum”.
Children at the nursery become “kind and compassionate” through their relationships with staff and learn about living things through visits to the local aquarium and farms.
Staff were described as “caring and alert” to the needs of babies and check the babies welfare whilst sleeping. Although at times, staff do not deliver high-quality story times.
Oasis Academy Connaught – Three of five judgements ‘Requires Improvement’
The quality of education at Oasis Academy Connaught, in Knowle West, was judged to be “not yet good”. The inspection in November found that the quality of education, leadership and management, and early years provision ‘Requires Improvement’ whilst the behaviour and attitudes and personal development were ‘Good’.
The school was described as “an important part of the community” and a “friendly and inclusive school”. The school has strengthened support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Whilst the school has high expectations for all pupils’ achievement, the vision is “not yet realised”. The school has recognised that the way the curriculum is taught requires improving, a positive start has been made to achieve this, but “there is more to do to ensure that the quality of education that pupils receive is good”.
The City Academy Bristol – Maintains ‘Good’ standard
The City Academy Bristol, on Russell Town Avenue in Redfield, was subject to an ungraded inspection in November which found that the previous ‘Good’ standards identified at the school have been maintained. The school was previously inspected in 2018.
Pupils with SEND who attend the “specially resourced provision” enjoy the school. The City Academy has high expectations of pupils who attend, and pupils live up to these standards.
Teaching does not check pupils’ understanding of what has been learnt at times, which means that some lessons move on without misunderstandings addressed. But, teachers have “strong subject knowledge” and the curriculum is delivered well.
Cotham Gardens Primary School – Two key judgements ‘Inadequate’
Cotham Gardens Primary School was inspected in December and subsequently placed into special measures after the school did not give an acceptable level of education. The school with 482 pupils was rated as ‘Inadequate’ for the quality of education and leadership and management, whilst other judgements were rated as ‘Requires Improvement’.
The report strongly criticised the school, which said: “Pupils do not receive an acceptable standard of education at Cotham Gardens and the school’s expectations of pupils’ achievement are low. The impact of the school’s curriculum is weak. Consequently, pupils are unprepared for the next stage of their education.”
Despite this, pupils feel safe and happy around the school and their conduct was described as “sensible and purposeful”. The trust board was recently strengthened and has begun to address issues, but the impact is not yet known.
Oasis Academy Marksbury Road – Maintains ‘Outstanding’ standard
Oasis Academy Marksbury Road, in Bedminster, was judged to have maintained the ‘Outstanding’ standard identified at an inspection in 2018. The ungraded inspection in December found that the primary school was described as a “happy and welcoming” place.
The Ofsted report said: “The school has a clear vision for what pupils can achieve. It recognises that the context of the school has changed since the last inspection, particularly the increasing numbers of pupils with SEND. With this in mind, the school has taken effective action to refine and further develop the quality of education that it provides so that pupils typically achieve well.”
In some subjects, checks that teachers make on pupils’ knowledge are not used well enough. But Ofsted widely praised the school for adapting to disappointing outcomes in national tests in phonics.
West Town Lane Academy – Maintains ‘Good’ standards
West Town Lane Academy was subject to an ungraded inspection in December and Ofsted found that ‘Good’ standards identified in 2019 have been maintained. The primary school with early years provision, in Brislington, has 645 pupils on its school roll.
The leadership team at the school were praised for analysing and evaluating all aspects of the school’s work in order to continually improve the school. The personal development programme offered at the school is strong and supports pupils to develop their character.
The school works with parents and carers to ensure that attendance is well-managed and that pupils are punctual. Some pupils who fall behind during the early stages of learning to read do not receive the support needed to catch up.
Ashley Down Primary School – Maintains ‘Good’ standards
Another school to have been subject to an ungraded inspection in December, Ashley Down Primary School, on Downend Road, retained its ‘Good’ standard. The primary school was last inspected in 2019.
Ofsted found pupils enjoy coming to school and trust staff. The school has high expectations of what pupils can achieve, who in turn achieve well.
Pupils were praised by Ofsted for being able to concentrate well, even at a young age, and for their love of reading. But, some misconceptions in learning are not identified promptly meaning some mistakes can be repeated.