Wolverhampton's first Sikh faith school told to improve over 'inconsistent teaching'
Wolverhampton's first Sikh faith school has been slammed for its 'inconsistent teaching' and lack of pupil progress.
Staff at Nishkam Primary School have been told it must do more to improve leadership, management and teaching after failing to impress education watchdog Ofsted.
It was the second time the Wolverhampton school was rated 'requires improvement' after an inspection.
In their report, inspectors Mark Sims and Jane Spilsbury said: "Leaders have not addressed the issues for improvement from the previous inspection with enough urgency.
"The quality of teaching is not consistently good. Pupils, particularly most-able pupils, are not sufficiently challenged in their work from their different starting points.
"Teachers do not consistently address pupils’ misconceptions and mistakes or give pupils enough time to develop their writing."
The school - which caters for children aged four to nine - was criticised for its 'overgenerous' view of teaching and failure to challenge its 217 youngsters.
Attendance for girls and disadvantaged pupils was also low and there was no specialist leadership for teaching English as an additional language - despite the school's non-native English speakers being higher than the national average.
Not enough pupils were seen to be 'making good or better progress', with inspectors calling for an external review of governance and of the school’s use of the pupil premium.
The report released this month about the October visit added: "Pupils’ progress is hampered by the lack of challenge and undemanding work set in some classes.
"Pupils’ progress is also restricted when they do not have enough time to finish their work."
But inspectors recognised the high attainment of pupils in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of key stage 1, and said pupils 'get off to a good start' in reception.
Parents were also 'overwhelmingly positive' about the school and the staff promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development very well , the inspectors said.
Head teacher Harmander Singh Dhanjal said: “We now look to build upon these key strengths to rapidly progress towards good and beyond and are redoubling our efforts to improve education for all of our pupils.
"Since the inspection, a rigorous plan is already in place to raise consistency and excellence across the curriculum, developed in new joint partnership at all levels with our two Ofsted ‘outstanding’ partner schools.”
Nishkam Primary School, formerly Anand Primary, became the city’s first free school when it opened its doors in 2013.
Birmingham-based Nishkam Education Trust took over the running of the school in Great Brickkiln Street, overseeing an increase in pupil numbers and appointing a new headteacher after its first year.
