Oxley Primary School 'not improving enough'

Oxley Primary School in Ripon Road, Wolverhampton, was told it required improvement following an Ofsted inspection in May this year.

But a subsequent monitoring inspection found that senior staff have not focused enough on improving the quality of teaching in order to raise pupils' achievements.

Her Majesty's Inspector, Usha Devi, recommends an urgent external review of governance at the school and of its use of the pupil premium.

She said: "Senior leaders and governors are not taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the last section five inspection in order to become a good school.

"Plans are not sharply focused on rapidly bringing about improvement. The school should work with the local authority and take urgent action to ensure that all senior leaders check rigorously the quality of teaching, pupils' achievement, and that weaknesses are tackled swiftly."

In her report Ms Devi said the vast majority of pupils do not have the skills and knowledge expected for their age, especially in writing and mathematics.

She added teachers' expectations of pupils' capabilities, especially the most-able, were low.

While observing lessons, the inspector found pupils were being asked to copy information from the board and teaching assistants were completing work for those pupils needing extra help, preventing them from learning.

Addressing headteacher Lorraine Adams, the inspector added: "The systems for checking the work of teachers and pupils' achievement are ineffective.

"Significant weaknesses in teaching have been allowed to develop because you and other senior leaders have not made sure that all staff follow consistently the advice and guidance they receive following any training and support."

The report goes on to say Mrs Adams had agreed with teachers for additional support to be provided for those pupils not making enough progress.

Although the inspector describes this as a 'positive development', she goes on to say it was not being checked if the agreed actions were put into action.

The school was given its 'grade 3' rating on the back of a visit from inspectors on April 30 and May 1, matching the grade it received after the watchdog's previous visit in September 2013.

Pupils' achievement at the 225-pupils school was said to be 'not yet consistently good', while staff were said to not develop children's writing skills well enough in early years.

That report said that Key Stage 1 staff did not ensure that pupils form letters correctly and use joined up handwriting, with teachers' expectations for pupils' pupils' progress 'not always high enough' in years one and four.