School complains over Ofsted downgrading

The head and governors of an Exmouth primary school are making an official complaint to Ofsted after inspectors changed their mind on the grade of their early years stage.

Inspectors originally rated the Early Years Foundation Stage at Brixington Primary School as good in their initial draft report.

Then – following a lengthy quality assurance process – Ofsted told the school that it would be classed as requiring improvement in the final published report.

Despite that, the final report still said: “Children in the EYFS thoroughly enjoy school, are well looked after and safe. Children skip to school with big smiles on their faces. Parents believe their children are happy, safe and well looked after. They (the EYFS) successfully develop children’s speaking and listening skills and are effective in teaching the skills of reading and writing. Assessment of children’s progress is rigorous and information is used well to inform planning.”

Today headteacher Jonathan Galling and chair of governors, Tristan Bassett, said: “We disagree with this judgement, as does our evidence, as well as the manner and timing in which the change was implemented.

“The governing body has made a formal complaint to Ofsted about this grade change and the means by which it has been justified.  We await further contact with Ofsted on this matter.”

Ofsted found the overall quality of teaching at the school and the achievement of pupils was inadequate.

It said too many pupils were not making the progress they were capable of, especially in maths at the end of Year 6.

They said some teachers set work that was too easy for some and too hard for others. As a result some pupils lost concentration and wasted time.

But they recognised that Mr Galling and the senior leaders in the school were making improvements.

“The team has secured improvements in attainment at Key Stage 1 and better in-year progress for the majority of pupils,” says lead inspector, Rob Ridout.

“They have secured…improvements in the quality of teaching and pupils’ achievement,” he said.  “This shows the school is capable of further improvement.”

And he adds: “The school promotes pupils’ social, moral, spiritual and cultural education well.

“Pupils are well mannered and show courtesy and consideration to each other and all adults. Arrangements to keep pupils safe are strong.”

The one in ten pupils who are disabled or have special needs often achieve better results than children in similar circumstances nationally.

Children in Years 1 and 2 have good outcomes in reading and maths while pupils in Year 1 achieved above average results in the national phonics screening check in 2013 and 2014.

Last summer’s results in the Key Stage 1 national tests were the school’s best ever.

Mr Galling said there had been a significant turnover of staff at Brixington and these changes had improved the children’s education but it had not been fast enough to satisfy the new, more rigorous Ofsted inspection regime.

“We are bitterly disappointed that, despite the progress we have made in the past two years, in some areas this progress has not been at a fast enough rate,” he said.

“We are all absolutely committed to addressing these areas.

“We will be receiving a wide range of additional external support, much of which has already begun and is having an impact.”