Staff at ‘welcoming and nurturing’ Northamptonshire village school working on further improvement after Ofsted report

Out of the seven categories used in the new inspection criteria, Titchmarsh Church of England Primary School achieved three ‘expected standard’ for Inclusion, Attendance and Behaviour, and Early Years. They also reached the expected standards for Safeguarding.

But four areas were given ‘needs attention’ ratings – Achievement, Curriculum and teaching, Leadership and governance and Personal development and wellbeing.

James Sherlock, executive headteacher of The Unity of Titchmarsh, Warmington and Nassington schools, said: “We are pleased that Ofsted recognised many of the school’s strengths, including our welcoming and nurturing culture, effective safeguarding arrangements, positive behaviour and attendance, and the strong relationships that exist across our school community.

“The inspection also validated leaders’ own evaluation of the school by identifying areas where further improvement is needed. These priorities were already known to school leaders and governors and plans to address them were already in place before the inspection took place.

“We welcome the report as it reflects both the strengths of the school and the next steps needed to ensure every pupil achieves as highly as possible. Inspectors recognised that leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's context and are taking appropriate action to secure improvement.”

In the report, published on July 16, Ofsted inspectors said the school was a ‘welcoming and nurturing community’ where pupils are ‘happy and feel safe’.

Inspectors said: “They [pupils] behave positively and build warm relationships with adults and each other. Pupils enjoy school and settle quickly into their learning.

“However, teaching is inconsistent. As a result, some pupils do not achieve as well as they could.”

Ofsted noted leaders had begun to make changes that are having a ‘positive impact on the quality of teaching’

Pointing to next steps for the school Ofsted leaders should ensure that the curriculum is suitably well designed and delivered for all pupils, gaps in foundational knowledge should be identified and acted on swiftly, and improvements made in the personal, social and health education curriculum to prepare students for life in modern Britain.

Mr Sherlock added: “Our pupils remain at the centre of everything we do. We are incredibly proud of them, of our dedicated staff team and of the strong support we receive from families and the wider community. Since the inspection, work has continued at pace, and we are confident that the improvements already underway will further strengthen the quality of education we provide.

“Titchmarsh is a caring, inclusive and ambitious school, and we remain fully committed to ensuring every child thrives both academically and personally.”

For the full Ofsted report go to https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50307634.