Ofsted inspectors praise progress to improve Chesterfield primary school which requires improvement

Ofsted published a new report following a monitoring visit at Barrow Hill Primary Academy in Chesterfield, which requires improvement.

The purpose of a monitoring inspection is not to grade the school’s overall effectiveness, but to report on the school’s progress. It is to highlight to the school and parents any improvements that school leaders have made since the previous graded inspection.

In the report published on March 8, inspectors said: “Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the school to become good.”The reports highlighted that since the last inspection in 2022, there have been several changes to staffing arrangements. This includes appointment of a lead teacher with responsibility for curriculum and changes to the organisation of subject leadership roles.

The school has been praised for refining the curriculum, especially prioritising reading, writing and mathematics. However, more work is needed to ensure that pupils remember knowledge over time.

The inspectors acknowledged that leaders and staff have benefited from the support and challenge provided by a number of external partners including regional mathematics, English and behaviour hubs, as well as Cavendish Learning Trust.

Joanne Mappin, the Executive Primary Lead at Cavendish Learning Trust, said: “The school is continuing to work hard on improving the quality of education of pupils at Barrow Hill and I have been pleased with the progress made since Ofsted last visited us, and the recent feedback from government inspectors.

“The development of the curriculum is a main priority for the school and staff are working together to review individual subjects to ensure our provision meets the national requirements to ensure that children can meet the age-related expectations.

“An example of this is a recent review of the geography curriculum, which demonstrated a greater need to focus on the locational and place knowledge to ensure that our children know more and remember more over time.”

Mrs Mappin also cited working alongside a partner school in Birmingham and with the DFE Behaviour Hub as strengthening its work on behaviour.

She added: “A recent visit to Barrow Hill from the school was hugely positive and the leaders could see differences that have come from our new Behaviour Policy, and the work that has been undertaken by the children and the staff.

“Our next steps are to embed our behaviours for learning and support our children to become more resilient when faced with more challenges in their work.”

Steps have also been taken to refresh rewards in school. They include the introduction of the weekly Celebration Assembly for pupils and the hugely successful Postcard of Praise; a note home to parents and carers updating them on their child’s progress in school.

“We have also introduced ‘Top Table’ for children who continue to display the school’s ethos of being ‘ready, respectful and safe’ during the lunchtime period and they are invited to come and have lunch with myself in the office at the end of the week.

“I have been overwhelmed with the efforts from staff, pupils and parents in continuing to support Barrow Hill and delighted with the progress that has been made at our school.”