School works to implement rapid change

FRIEZLAND Primary School

ONE of Oldham's smallest primary schools has been told to make sure pupils reach the standards they are capable of.

Friezland Primary was given a "requires improvement" rating - the second lowest of four possible grades - after a two-day Ofsted inspection.

But the education watchdog also praised many areas of the school's work.

The primary in Church Road, Greenfield, has 107 pupils and its acting head teacher and assistant head are on one-year contracts.

It exceeds the Government's minimum standards for pupils' attainment and progress but the inspection report said: "Leaders and governors have an overgenerous view of the school's effectiveness. This is because the evaluation of the work of the school is focused on the overall standards that pupils attain rather than the progress that pupils make from their different starting points.

"In particular, leaders do not check whether the most able pupils are making enough progress. As a result, too few reach the higher standards of which they are capable.

"Leaders have effective plans in place to address this but it is too early to see the impact of the improvements."

The quality of teaching is inconsistent across Years 3 to 6, said the inspectors, and some teachers do not have high enough expectations.

"Governors want the best for the pupils. They are beginning to hold leaders more robustly to account but recognise they should have done so earlier," they added

But the school's early years provision is judged to be "good", with the quality of teaching in reception ensuring pupils get off to a good start.

Pupils' personal development, behaviour and welfare across the school is also "good". The inspectors found that pupils enjoy school, their attendance is good, they feel safe and low-level disruption is rare.

"Pupils show high levels of care for one another, with older pupils playing with younger pupils at playtimes," added Ofsted.

Friezland is working with a school improvement partner.

A statement from the head teacher and governors said: "Whilst we are disappointed with the overall outcome, we are pleased with the strengths that our recent inspection reflected. In particular, how well we promote pupils' personal development and welfare as without these solid foundations, pupils will not achieve their full potential.

"We fully understand the urgency that is required to bring about positive changes. As the report reflected, the school leaders are ambitious for all pupils and therefore we are fully committed to bringing about rapid improvements and are clear about how this will be done."