West Pinchbeck school praised for ‘ambition of raising aspirations’ says it is ‘incredibly disappointed’ with Ofsted rating

A school with an ‘inclusive ethos’ which pupils describe as ‘being like a big family’ has been told it requires improvement.

Ofsted inspectors were full of praise for the attitudes and personal growth accomplished by the 92 youngsters at St Bartholomew’s Primary School in West Pinchbeck.

However, they highlighted areas where the school should improve, including the quality of education and leadership and management.

A statement from the school said it was ‘incredibly disappointed’ with the rating.

“It goes without saying that we are incredibly disappointed in the rating as it doesn’t reflect the hard work and effort that the school has put in over the last couple of years to transform the curriculum offering, personal development opportunities and whole school provision,” the statement read.

“Summing up a school across a couple of days is not a fair reflection of its everyday quality.

“Ofsted praised many things the school is doing well including broadening pupils’ horizons, improvements to the curriculum, our early years provision, our SEND provision, behaviour and attendance, safeguarding and our dedicated staff.”

However, St Bartholomew’s added it is already working on making improvements.

The statement added: “A plan was devised and implemented immediately based upon recommended changes and many of the development points have already been addressed.

“Therefore, we know that the next Ofsted inspection will recognise the impact of what we do as a school and award us an appropriate grading.

“I am very proud of St Bartholomew’s. It is a wonderful school with pupils at its heart and the progress we have made in recent years, under the stewardship of Miss Ingle (headteacher Sophie) as the headteacher and the senior leadership team is exceptional.

“The future of the school is very bright, and we hope that our community will continue to support us and have faith in us as they always have done.“

The report, which described the children as ‘polite and friendly’, explained: “With its motto of ‘let your light shine’, the ambition of raising aspirations and broadening horizons sits at the heart of St Bartholomew’s.

“The school aims to prepare pupils to live life to the full. Staff link what pupils are learning in the classroom to the real world and to pupils’ potential future careers.

“Pupils describe St Bartholomew’s as being like a big family. This inclusive ethos makes them feel safe and valued.

“Pupils say, ‘the staff here always give you a big smile in the morning which makes us feel happy, welcome and ready for the day’.”

The report added that youngsters ‘have a voice and know that they are listened to’.

Most aspects of the school’s curriculum are ‘well planned’ by ‘passionate and dedicated’ staff, according the the report, which adds ‘phonics is taught well’ and ‘staff encourage fluent reading’.

However, it says the key stage 2 reading curriculum ‘lacks clarity’.

“The teaching of reading beyond phonics is not as strong,” added the report, published last week following a two-day inspection in June.

“The school has not given enough thought to the texts that pupils will read in guided reading sessions.

“It is not clear what pupils are expected to know and do to make progress in reading comprehension. The focus of pupils’ work in guided reading is too narrow. It is not always sufficiently demanding.

“The school knows that outcomes at the end of key stage 2 in reading, writing and mathematics need improving. However, strategic plans do not address all these key areas well enough.”

Inspectors told St Bartholomew’s - where headteacher Sophie Ingle has been in the role since January 2022 - that the ‘many improvements to the curriculum’ must be ‘implemented consistently’ and that it must ensure its reading curriculum develops.

The school as has been told to create a more precise plan to help disadvantaged pupils with gaps in their learning and ‘refine its improvement planning processes so there is a clear strategy in place for all key issues’.

St Bartholomews - which rated good at its last full inspection in 2014 - rated good for behaviour and attitudes, personal development and early years provision.

However, inspectors said its quality of education and leadership and management both required improvement, leading to its overall rating or requires improvement.