Improvements "top priority" at Oldham school after Ofsted inspection

Alexandra Park Junior School, on Brook Lane, was rated as requires improvement in all but one category. The school had previously been rated as good following an inspection in January 2013.

The inspection report stated: "Leaders and governors have not sustained the good quality of education seen in the previous inspection.

"Pupils do not make consistently good progress in school and standards have dropped, so that in 2017, national test results showed that progress was in the bottom 20% of schools nationally."

The report added that assessment strategies were not yet effective in identifying the gaps in pupils’ learning with some teachers not checking that tasks are challenging enough and matched to pupils’ ability.

The report continued: "Teachers do not provide pupils with enough opportunities to practise and develop their skills in English and mathematics in other areas of the curriculum.

"Too many pupils take extended time away from school. This fragments their education and makes it very hard for them to keep up with their reading, writing and mathematics."

Ofsted inspectors also described the school as being in a "period of transition" with staff changes and a leadership team only in post since September, 2017.

The report continued: "In a relatively short space of time, leaders have carried out an audit to ensure that they are focusing on the correct priorities. They are tackling weaknesses with enthusiasm and tenacity."

The primary school gained a good rating for personal development, behaviour and welfare and inspectors praised various strengths at the school.

The report said: "Leaders and governors now have a clear focus on what needs attention to improve the school. The new leadership team is beginning to secure improvements in the quality of teaching across the school."

It added that the pastoral team create a secure and welcoming learning environment while recent improvements, particularly within the teaching of mathematics had accelerated the rates of progress of most pupils.

"Pupils take on responsibilities in a range of roles, representing their classmates and helping other people," The report said.

" This prepares them well to take a full role as future citizens.

"Behaviour is good at the school. Pupils are confident and self-assured. They say that they feel safe in school and know that staff will always help them if they have a problem."

Mr Peter Widall, Chair of Governors, said: "Although we're disappointed with the outcomes of the inspection, it does identify the many things the school is doing well. We are already working very hard to get the school to a 'good' judgement."

"The Ofsted report acknowledges that our new leadership team is starting to make improvements in the quality of teaching - for example, in maths, where they say we have "accelerated the rates of progress of most pupils currently in the school.'

"We want to reassure parents and the local community that improvement is our top priority and we value their support."

The school has been told to improve by eradicating any remaining inconsistencies in the quality of teaching across the school, ensuring the governing body fulfils its statutory responsibility to publish information on the school website and refining assessment systems to identify gaps in a pupil's learning.

Th school was also urged to "continue to work closely with parents to further reduce the number of pupils who take extended breaks from school, so that they benefit from the opportunities the school offers".