Cannock primary school told to improve by Ofsted

Norton Canes Primary Academy, on School Road, has been told its teaching is not consistent enough with concerns raised over teaching of key subjects not being challenging enough.

The school has been rated 'requires improvement' overall by Ofsted.

• Click here to read the full Ofsted report

Its leadership, quality of teaching and outcomes for pupils were all rated 'requires improvement'.

A report prepared after inspectors visited the school at the end of November last year said: "While there have been some improvements in teaching and learning, leaders and governors have not secured good progress in all subjects.

"Not all leaders have a clear view about the weaker aspects of pupils' achievement and what actions are needed to make improvements.

"Teaching is variable across the school and is not yet consistently good. Teachers do not use assessment information sufficiently well to match learning activities to pupils' needs.

"The work provided for some lower- and middle-attaining pupils is not challenging enough in reading and mathematics. This is also the case for some lower-attaining key stage one pupils in writing.

"Despite some improvements to the teaching of reading in key stage 2, pupils are not helped to develop their reading skills quickly enough.

"Pupils' ability to use reasoning in mathematics is less well developed. This leads to some pupils sometimes struggling to apply their new mathematical knowledge when solving complex problems."

However the school was also rated good for its early years provision and personal development, with inspectors praising the 'wide-range' of the curriculum and pupils' behaviour in lessons.

The report said: "The early years provision is well led and managed. As a result, children make good progress from their starting points.

"Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school. Pupils feel safe and know how to keep safe.

"The curriculum offers pupils a wide range of learning experiences that they enjoy. Pupils in key stage 2 make good progress in their writing."

The school was unavailable for comment.