Staffing changes blamed as school told it must improve

Major changes in staffing have hit standards at a Doncaster school, inspectors have claimed.

Wadworth Primary School, on Meadow Rise, Wadworth, has been rated as requiring improvement by Ofsted in a report published last week.

The report says that during the last year, the large turnover of staff had a significant impact on the progress made in addressing the issues identified at its previous inspection.

As a result, the school still requires improvement.

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New headteacher Peter McLean said: “Although Ofsted recognised that there were considerable improvements to attainment and progress last year, during a very turbulent time, they judged that the school still required improvement.

“This is not where we want to be and we are fully committed to doing the best we can for the children and we are committed to the journey of rapid school improvement.

“Ofsted’s findings mirror the priorities identified by the headteacher and Governing body and the report gives greater impetus to the school to build on its areas of strength and effectively tackle identified improvement priorities.

“Staff and governors would like to thank all parents for their continued support.”

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The report warns the progress made by pupils is not good enough and requires improvement.

Teaching was found to be too variable throughout the school.

Teachers’ expectations of what pupils can do were often too low, especially for the most able.

Comments in pupils’ books did not always reflect the school’s marking policy. They did not always help pupils to know how to improve their work.

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It found not enough of the youngest pupils made progress of which they are capable.

School plans identified a large number of actions to be undertaken but lacked precise measures so leaders and governors could check if interventions and support provided were making a difference.

The report also said pupils’ knowledge and understanding of different faiths, cultures and democracy was underdeveloped and governors did not know how effectively pupils were taught how to be responsible citizens

Strengths were also revealed. It stated the headteacher was determined to make improvements and was uncompromising in his belief that all pupils must achieve their potential.

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Governors were involved regularly in school life and have developed strong links with parents, staff and pupils.

The report stated pupils behaved well, attended school regularly and enjoyed taking part in the clubs out of school time.

Parents were virtually unanimous that their children were happy and safe at the school and enjoy being there.