OFSTED inspectors have reported that Brimscombe CE Primary School requires improvement but have also recognised that the school is focusing on the right things and that the progress of pupils is accelerating.

Headteacher Karen Riordan said: “The Ofsted report didn’t present us with any surprises, and the points highlighted were already being addressed. The key aspect is that Ofsted has identified the very many positive aspects of our school, in particular that it develops pupils into creative, caring young people who respect and care for each other, and a high percentage of pupils are on track to make and exceed progress.”

The inspectors, who visited the school on January 23 and 24, proposed further improvement in the quality of teaching to raise standards, particularly in maths and writing, and in developing the skills of middle leaders so that they can play a leading role in raising pupil’s achievement. They said the behaviour and safety of pupils was good, with good attitudes to learning, and described the school’s work to keep pupils safe and secure as ‘outstanding’.

Areas where improvement was required included: the achievement of pupils, particularly in mathematics and writing in Key Stage 2, where progress over the last three years has not been good enough; and the leadership and management where, over time, leaders have not been vigilant enough in ensuring that all pupils have achieved well. The report also noted that the governance of the school has been through a period of change, and a determination that the school will become outstanding as soon as possible.

Ms Riordan added: “The school is taking steps to ensure the quality of teaching is consistently good, and the report acknowledges that ‘pupils enjoy their work because teachers do their best to make lessons relevant and interesting’ while ‘the quality of teaching is improving as higher expectations are put in place’.”