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”.
Across North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset, three schools were given a new Ofsted report in February. No schools in South Gloucestershire received a new Ofsted report during February.
Winford Church of England Primary School – Quality of education ‘Requires Improvement’
Winford Church of England Primary School, on Felton Lane in Winford (located south of Bristol), was downgraded from ‘Good’ after an inspection on January 14 and 15. The primary school, with 203 pupils on its school roll, was previously rated as ‘Good’ in 2023.
The school was given a ‘Requires Improvement’ rating in two key judgements, the quality of education and the leadership and management. The other key judgements remained at a ‘Good’ rating.
The primary school was described by Ofsted as “nurturing” and won praise for the warm relationships between staff and pupils. In the two years since the last inspection, the school has strengthened various areas of the curriculum.
Improvements have been made to identify and support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The curriculum is adapted to meet pupils’ needs.
Overall, the curriculum is not always implemented well and checks on learning are not sufficient enough to understand any gaps in pupils’ knowledge. In some subjects, staff do not have the knowledge to deliver the curriculum.
Mendip House Nursery & Pre School – ‘Good’ across the board
Mendip House Nursery & Pre School, on Bedford Road in Weston-super-Mare, was rated as ‘Good’ across the board. The nursery was inspected on January 21.
The nursery has 50 children on its school roll and has remained at a ‘Good’ rating. The nursery was previously rated as ‘Good’ in 2019.
Staff were praised for following strong and clear practices for observing and assessing children’s development. Staff model speech and suitable words for babies to develop their expression.
Children learn about safety boundaries and expectations whilst being at the nursery. Staff liaise with parents to support the children and share a wealth of information, including learning goals and planned nursery activities.
Management at the nursery undertakes staff observations in order to help their development and skills. However, help is needed for staff to review and adapt their support during adult-led nursery activities to consistently engage children.
High Littleton CofE VC Primary School – ‘Outstanding’ across the board
High Littleton CofE VC Primary School, on Church Hill in High Littleton (located south west of Bath), was rated as ‘Outstanding’ across the board. The inspection, on January 21 and 22, was the school’s first inspection since converting into an academy.
The school has 185 pupils on its school roll High Littleton CofE was previously inspected in 2014 (under its predecessor of the same name) and was judged to be ‘Outstanding’.
Ofsted praised the school for its curriculum, which is “highly ambitious”, which allows for pupils to achieve well. Pupils “consistently produce work that is of high quality” and are proud of what they achieve.
Pupils with SEND are identified swiftly and are supported throughout the school in order to make the best possible progress. The behaviour of pupils is “exceptionally positive”.
Staff told inspectors of their experience at the school, which was described as “universally positive”. Governors and leaders also earned praise for their clear understanding of the school’s strengths and leaders’ priorities for development.