Bracknell

Inspectors have been hard at work in Bracknell Forest compiling Ofsted reports for three schools in the borough.

In May Ofsted visited Bracknell Holly Spring Infant and Nursery School, Warfield CofE Primary and Fox Hill Primary and their findings have now been published.

An Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) inspection team made a visit to Bracknell Holly Spring Infant and Nursery School on May 15 and 16. The inspectors gave the Lily Hill Road school a grade two, good rating overall, highlighting the school's many strengths which include:

• Pupils are achieving well because of good teaching and an interesting curriculum.
• Effective pastoral care and support, and a positive atmosphere result in good personal development and wellbeing for pupils.
• The headteacher, approachability of staff, additional activities and communication all receive praise from parents.

In common with all Ofsted reports, the inspectors identified areas for improvement. At Bracknell Holly Spring inspectors would like the school to raise achievement and standards in writing and to implement more efficient systems for monitoring pupils' progress.

Headteacher Julia Paradine said: "We are very proud of our pupils and their achievements and are pleased Ofsted has recognised the strengths and successes of our school. We shall continue to work with our pupils, parents and governors to provide the best learning opportunities for our children."

Bracknell Fox Hill Primary in Pondmoor Road received a grade three, satisfactory rating from Ofsted when they visited the school on May 14 and 15.

The report said: "Despite staff changes, the school is improving and morale is high. This is because of the dynamic leadership of the interim headteacher.

"In a short time he [Michael Harris] has provided clear and determined direction for the school. Teachers are embracing his new ideas and they are keen to improve. As a result there is a sense of teamwork among staff firmly fixed on raising standards."

The Bracknell report also noted:

• Pupils respond well to the caring attitude of adults, which helps them feel safe.
• Pupils of all abilities and from different backgrounds feel welcome at the school and settle in quickly.
• The school rightly recognises the need to strengthen the influence of subject teachers on monitoring and improving achievement levels, and the quality of teaching and learning within their areas of responsibilities.

The report said: "The most important areas for improvement have been identified and appropriate actions are being taken to tackle them."

Headteacher Michael Harris said: "Fox Hill Primary School is a happy school and the children, staff, parents and governors all played a part in achieving this encouraging report."

On May 15, an inspector arrived at Warfield C of E Primary in All Saints Rise to take a look at how the school teaches geography and the standard of pupils' work.

The inspector looked at key areas of the subject, with the focus on the school's response to 'Excellence and Enjoyment' and how this is impacting on the provision in geography, particularly in terms of planning and progression.

The overall effectiveness of geography is good and is in line with national expectations.

The inspector noted that:

• Pupils make good progress in lessons.
• There are high levels of engagement in geography lessons and pupils enjoy the planned activities, as seen in the very good relationships with teachers and other adults and their willingness to talk about what they have learnt.

The Bracknell school has taken an innovative approach to the curriculum which is now organised through a series of guiding topics rather than subjects. The new 'living curriculum' has provided more relevance to what is being taught and allows for greater flexibility and topicality. Teachers feel more empowered and older pupils report an increased engagement with the curriculum.

Suggested areas for improvement noted by the inspector included the need to develop a fuller range of assessment opportunities in the new curriculum, ensuring that all aspects of geography are assessed over each key stage.

Bracknell Headteacher Andrea Griffiths said: "We made a decision two years ago to build and implement a new curriculum that we truly believed in. We have already seen the differences it is making in our school. To have this acknowledged by Ofsted is wonderful. This positive outcome is a testimony to the dedication and energy of the teachers and the hard work and enthusiasm of the pupils."

Cllr Alan Kendall, Executive Member for Education, said: "I am delighted with all of the results of the Ofsted for these three schools.

"I am pleased the inspection teams have recognised the high quality of education in Bracknell Forest. Well done to all of the headteachers and their staff on this success."

Bracknell Forest Council