Chesterfield school taking steps to improve after Ofsted criticism

Government inspectors attended William Rhodes Primary School for a monitoring visit in January and their findings were published this week.

They had previously found the Hunloke Avenue school ‘requires improvement’ after its last full inspection in April 2018.

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Lead inspector John Lawson said: “Leaders are taking a range of actions to improve the school since the previous inspection. They have managed financial challenges and a period of staff absences well.

“Leaders, staff and governors who spoke with the inspector are proud to be part of the school.

“They are ambitious for what pupils can achieve. Pupils themselves say that the school is improving. While there is still work to do, leaders are taking the necessary steps to improve the school.”

To improve further, the school has been told to ensure that staff have the expertise they need to teach pupils to become fluent readers, ensure that teachers in all classes plan sequences of learning that build on pupils’ previous learning and more sharply focus improvement plans to hold leaders and staff better to account and check that their initiatives are applied consistently well by all staff.

During the inspection, meetings were held with the headteacher and other senior leaders, the local authority and pupils.

Mr Lawson said: “Leaders, staff and governors who spoke with the inspector are proud to be part of the school. They are ambitious for what pupils can achieve.

“Pupils themselves say that the school is improving. While there is still work to do, leaders are taking the necessary steps to improve the school.”

Ofsted also said they were impressed by attempts to improve pupil attendance.

“Historically, pupils’ attendance has been low. This was identified as an area for improvement at the last inspection. Leaders are taking an appropriate range of actions to promote the importance of regular attendance.

“Leaders make clear their procedures to parents for following up absences, and work closely with families of pupils who are regularly absent from school.”

The school declined to comment.