A PRIMARY school in Weymouth has been handed a critical report from Ofsted – falling short in exactly the same categories as two years ago.

Chickerell Primary Academy has been told it ‘requires improvement’ in its latest Ofsted report.

The quality of teaching, learning and assessment were criticised by inspectors, along with the effectiveness of leadership and outcomes for pupils.

In being rated as requiring improvement in three of the five scrutinised categories, this year’s inspection shows no changes from the school’s 2014 report.

In 2013, while the school had a good rating, it became the first primary school in Dorset to convert to an academy, separating itself from local authority control.

Its inspection in the following year saw it downgraded to requiring improvement.

The latest report said that governors had not done enough to challenge the school’s leaders and address weaknesses, that pupils don’t make enough progress by the end of Key Stage 2 and that the quality of teaching, learning and assessment varied widely across the school.

The most disadvantaged and the most able students were, the report claims, frequently overlooked by the leadership and management.

It said: “Despite some improvements since the previous inspection, leadership and management continues to require improvement.

“Teaching is not good enough over time, particularly for the most able and disadvantaged pupils, in writing and mathematics, within key stage two.

“The pupil premium is not used well enough to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. 

“Actions are not sharply focused on accelerating the learning and progress of disadvantaged pupils.
“Senior leaders have not been rigorous enough in comparing the school’s performance to that of other schools nationally. 

“As a result, the school’s self-evaluation is overly positive and not sufficiently focused on specific groups, such as the most able and disadvantaged.”

Ofsted praised the personal development, behaviour and welfare as well as early years’ provision at Chickerell Primary Academy.

It said that pupils were polite, friendly and well-mannered in class and were well behaved.

It added: “The school provides effective support for pupils and families who face challenging circumstances. The caring, supportive ethos permeates the school.

“Pupils who have special educational needs and or disabilities are well supported.”

School 'disappointed' in report

ACADEMY principal Jody Harris was unavailable for comment. 

However, she did provide a copy of a letter she sent to parents after the results were published.

In it, she said: “You will undoubtedly be disappointed, as we are. We have been judged exactly the same as we were two years ago and we had hoped that we had enough evidence to show the many improvements that our self-evaluation colleague from the local authority had recognised in his frequent visits to the school, as had other external agencies linked to Chesil.

“As with any inspection report, we will take the areas that we believe to be a true and accurate need for improvement and work on them with outside support where appropriate.

“Writing across the school and the level of challenge in maths at Key Stage 2 will be two of those area, as will the teaching of phonics lower down the school.”

Mike Randall, the school’s improvement partner, added: “Of all the inspections I have been involved with, this was the one with which I felt the most discomfort - not because of the school but in the manner I feel the inspection was conducted. I have read the inspection report, and it does not reflect this school. I have made a formal complaint to Ofsted and this is being addressed.”