A primary school in south Bristol that is ‘steadfast in the way it serves families in its communities’ was praised by Ofsted after an inspection in January despite being downgraded. Fair Furlong Primary School, on Vowell Close in Withywood, earned a ‘good’ rating in every key judgement.
The school was previously rated as ‘outstanding’ in 2015 and the inspection on January 14 and 15 was the first inspection of the primary school in over a decade. The primary school, with early years provision, has 455 pupils on its school roll.
Inspectors described the school as “caring and inclusive” which is ‘aspirational for all pupils’. Staff welcome all members of the school community with a smile and know pupils and their families well, making pupils feel safe and happy, the report said.
Staff have high expectations of all pupils, who in turn respond “positively” to this. The curriculum has been subject to improvements, which has supported pupils to achieve well. Children in the early years “get off to a good start” and are able to settle quickly.
Pupils behave well inside and outside the classroom and enjoy opportunities to develop their interests and talents. The school provides extra-curricular clubs, visits and trips which enrich the educational experience.
The report said: “The school is aspirational for all pupils. Recently, the school has brought about improvements to the curriculum design, in subjects where published outcomes are below the national average, the school has taken effective action to strengthen the curriculum. Therefore, the current standard of education is not reflected in the school’s published outcomes in 2024.
“The school is steadfast in the way it serves families in its community. There is a high proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities in the school. These pupils have their needs accurately identified and they achieve well.
“The school has established an effective approach to evaluate the impact of its actions. In many areas, this information is used well to further improve the quality of education that pupils receive, however, at times, the school does not use this information as well as it could.”
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The school is committed to creating a positive reading culture, starting in the early years where children enjoy stories and learn to sing rhymes. Staff quickly identify pupils at risk of falling behind and pupils receive support to catch up.
Teachers have “secure subject knowledge” and explains new content and important vocabulary accurately, pupils develop their understanding well. In some wider curriculum subjects, the checks the school makes on pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum are not as effective as could be and some pupils have gaps in knowledge.
The report said: “The school has recently taken robust action to improve pupils’ attendance. It works closely with families to understand any barriers and to agree a plan to overcome them. While it is still early days, this approach is beginning to have a positive impact.
“Classrooms are purposeful and calm and pupils are keen to learn and contribute to class discussions. Some pupils who struggle to manage their behaviour are supported effectively by adults. This means that pupils can learn without interruption.”
The personal development on offer at Fair Furlong is ‘strong’. Pupils learn about British values and celebrating cultural diversity and healthy relationships. Governors at the school have an accurate view of the school’s strengths and weaknesses and staff appreciate the support they receive.
Headteacher Sarah Andrews said: “Our dedicated team of staff work very hard to ensure that all of our pupils are ‘the best they can be’ and ensure that we provide a secure, safe and nurturing learning environment where everyone is valued as an individual and supported to be happy, enthusiastic and inquisitive learners.
“We strive to provide opportunities for success for all our pupils in every aspect of their development and are committed to providing an enriched curriculum, a range of extra-curricular activities and a focus on emotional wellbeing. We believe that the best success can be achieved through working in partnership with our pupils, their families and carers, the governors and the local community.”