Ofsted Reports
Positive relationships lie at the heart of Springcroft Primary. Leaders, staff and supportive parents work together to get the best for pupils. This partnership working helps pupils to thrive. Parents are proud of the school. Leaders are ambitious for the school community. They have created a kind, caring culture, and have a firm belief that all pupils can achieve their best. These values and aims are at the heart of every decision they make. – Ofsted, November 2022
Springcroft Primary School's latest inspection took place on the 23rd and 24th November 2022. Our lastest report can be read here, or downloaded from the bottom of this page.
Information about the Ofsted inspection process
Overall inspection focus
Ofsted's renewed inspections reflect a significant shift in inspection culture. There is a stronger emphasis on leadership as a driver of sustained improvement, and on inclusion. These emphases are reflected both in the themes guiding our evidence-gathering and in the standards within the toolkit.
Inspections are grounded in respectful professional dialogue, focused on impact and designed to support self-improvement and inclusive practice. They are structured but also flexible, adapting to context, responding to evidence and concentrating on what matters most for pupils. Learning walks are important and allow leaders to share their context as they are showing inspectors around their school.
Inspectors work with leaders to build an accurate and typical view of the quality of the school. This includes knowing and understanding how well pupils:
- achieve – academically and personally
- belong – feel that they belong to, and are valued as part of, the school community, so that they attend, behave and contribute positively to what the school offers
- thrive – benefit from the right systems, processes and levels of oversight, so that they are kept safe and are able to flourish, whatever their background or individual needs
Inspectors consider what leaders are aiming to achieve, how well they are doing it and how they know it is working. The school's starting point is the ‘expected’ standard in each of the evaluation areas in the toolkit. These considerations underpin planning, shape evidence-gathering and guide our evaluation from preparation through to final reporting.
The foundations of our renewed inspections are:
- children and pupils first – high expectations with a focus on outcomes and experiences
- the care and well-being of those we inspect – through collaborative working with schools and building positive relationships with leaders and staff
- a school’s unique context – evidence is evaluated in the light of each school’s strengths, challenges and priorities for improvement, and how well it identifies and meets the needs of significant groups of pupils
- the lens of the toolkit – the toolkit sets out the grading standards, supporting shared professional dialogue
- quality and impact – evidence-based decisions focus on the quality and the impact of leaders’ choices and actions on pupils, reflected in the grading standards
Throughout the inspection, inspectors give particular attention to the experiences and outcomes of disadvantaged pupils, pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), pupils known or previously known to children’s social care and those who face other barriers to their learning and/or well-being. These groups are central to planning, inspection activity and evaluation.
What do the inspections actually involve?
An Ofsted inspection involves inspectors visiting the school to evaluate the quality of safeguarding, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance, personal development and wellbeing, attainment and early years provision. During the visit, inspectors speak with pupils and staff, observe lessons, review work in books, look at policies and data, and seek views from parents. Their findings are then used to produce a report card that outlines the school’s strengths and areas for development, providing families and the wider community with an independent view of the school’s overall effectiveness.
How much notice do schools get?
Normally, schools get half a day’s notice of a full inspection, but Ofsted has the power to go into schools without any notice if it considers it necessary. This could be if they have received concerns about a school, possibly from a parent.
What happens during an inspection?
Usually, inspections last for two days. The number of inspectors varies depending on the size and type of a school, but the team will be led by His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) who will be joined by contracted Ofsted inspectors – normally practising headteachers and deputy heads.
Before the inspection, the inspectors gather information about the school by reading the previous Ofsted report, reports of any interim monitoring, any complaints that have been raised about the school, academic data, information about funding, and information from the school’s website. They also send a letter to parents inviting them to share their opinions about the school on Ofsted’s Parent View website.
During the inspection, inspectors will observe lessons, check records and gather a range of evidence to inform their judgements, including speaking to staff, governors, pupils and parents and scrutinising pupils’ work. Through these activities, Ofsted are able to build a clear picture of what life is like at the school and how well pupils are learning.
The main focus is on teaching and learning; inspectors will sit in on lessons, look through children’s books and folder and talk to them about not just their understanding, but also how engaged they are in their learning.
What are the inspectors looking at?
Ofsted inspectors look at the following main areas: safeguarding, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance, personal development and wellbeing, attainment and early years provision. From this, inspectors will put together a report card, which will include a section on what it is like to be a pupil at this school.
How quickly do schools get the results?
Most schools get a draft copy of the report within 25 days after the inspection. This is an opportunity for them to check it for factual accuracy and make any comments before it’s published.
The final report is then sent to the school once any revisions have been made. It will then be published ont the Ofsted website.
What are the possible outcomes?
Each area will be graded as the following standards:
- Exceptions
- Strong
- Expected
- Needs Attention
- Urgent Improvement
More information can be found here.
