As a new school year approaches, it's worth taking note of which Sheffield schools are still on an improvement journey and have the chance to use the new term as a fresh start.
There are currently 16 primary or secondary schools in the Steel City rated as 'requires improvement' by the education watchdog, according to its website.
In many cases, the inspection reports are not without compliments, such as how pupils at Birley Spa Primary Academy are "polite and respectful", how the children at Eckington Junior School were "happy, police and enthusiastic".
Some should be seen as good news as well. Clifford All Saints CofE was rated 'requires improvement' in all areas but was highly positive about the direction it was headed, particularly after the severely critical monitoring visit the previous year.
But, often, the overall grade was brought down by some crucial weakness or gaps in how children are taught, such as slip-ups in the 'quality of education' at Gleadless Primary School.
However, in several cases, some of these Sheffield schools have been waiting up to four years for Ofsted to come back to they can prove themselves. Birley Spa Primary has not had a routine monitoring visit since it was rated in November 2019, even when guidance is that inspectors should check in in less than two years.
Let's hope there are better days ahead for these schools heading into the 2023/2024 academic year.
In many cases, the inspection reports are not without compliments, such as how pupils at Birley Spa Primary Academy are "polite and respectful", how the children at Eckington Junior School were "happy, police and enthusiastic".
![Meynell Community Primary School was rated as 'requires improvement' by Ofsted at its inspection in September 2019. It received a monitoring visit in June 2021, where inspectors felt effective action was being taken to get it back to a Good grade.
- https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50169352](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjkwOTYyMjlkLTU0ODAtNDkyMi05MWUxLTczYjlhMGE1Y2VlMjo2NzYxMWIzMS1jODhjLTQ2OTctOTZkYy0xYzMwZjRmZTQ1NDE=.png?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. Meynell Community Primary School
Meynell Community Primary School was rated as 'requires improvement' by Ofsted at its inspection in September 2019. It received a monitoring visit in June 2021, where inspectors felt effective action was being taken to get it back to a Good grade. - https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50169352 | Google Maps Photo: Google
![Clifford All Saints CofE Primary School, in Psalter Lane, was rated as 'requires improvement' by Ofsted at its inspection in October 2021 after previously scoring 'Good' in 2019. It has not received a monitoring visit since then. In fact, the latest report was largely positive the school was addressing weakness whch were mainly raised in a highly critical monitoring 2020 visit.
- https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50159357](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmIwYTE4NzBjLWE4N2EtNGMxZS04YzA1LTcwNTQ3OWNiM2M3YjplNjM5ZWM1Mi0xNThiLTQ1YzUtYTZmZS02NWQ1OGVhNDIwMDk=.png?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Clifford All Saints CofE Primary School
Clifford All Saints CofE Primary School, in Psalter Lane, was rated as 'requires improvement' by Ofsted at its inspection in October 2021 after previously scoring 'Good' in 2019. It has not received a monitoring visit since then. In fact, the latest report was largely positive the school was addressing weakness whch were mainly raised in a highly critical monitoring 2020 visit. - https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50159357 | Google Maps Photo: Google
![Gleadless Primary School was rated as 'requires improvement' by Ofsted at its inspection in March 2022, down from its previous rating of Good. The report was 'Good' in all areas, but slip ups in 'quality of education' brought the grade down.
- https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/106991](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQzZTg2ODM5LTdlYmYtNGY5ZC05OGM2LTFkNjExMjNmNzE3MTplMTFiMzI0MC02NDQzLTQ2OGEtOWNlNi0yZjUwYzg4NzI3NWM=.png?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. Gleadless Primary School
Gleadless Primary School was rated as 'requires improvement' by Ofsted at its inspection in March 2022, down from its previous rating of Good. The report was 'Good' in all areas, but slip ups in 'quality of education' brought the grade down. - https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/106991 | google maps Photo: Google
![Yewlands Academy, in Creswick Lane, was upgraded from 'Inadequate' to 'Requires Improvement' in a visit from Ofsted on June 29, 2022, with inspectors acknowledging that the new leadership team were addressing issues.
- https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/145943](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ5N2U4MWNkLTZmMWItNGRhZC1hOWRiLWM1MTNhMGU0MDkzZTpiYzQxNjQ2Yy0yMDI3LTRmODUtOTRmOS0zYTZlNmMxZDZlYWE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Yewlands Academy
Yewlands Academy, in Creswick Lane, was upgraded from 'Inadequate' to 'Requires Improvement' in a visit from Ofsted on June 29, 2022, with inspectors acknowledging that the new leadership team were addressing issues. - https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/145943 | National World Photo: JPI