Netherley Park Primary School has been placed in special measures following an Ofsted inspection that found fighting, bullying and concerningly low attendance.
The report, published after a visit in June, identified a litany of failures at the school, which until September this year was known as Norman Pannell Primary School. Inspectors found that pupils were not being adequately prepared for the next stages of their learning.
Officials noted that “arguing, name-calling and fighting” in lessons or at breaktimes had become regular occurrences. The report found five areas of urgent improvement.
Conduct and attendance concerns
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector concluded that the school requires special measures because it is failing to provide an “acceptable standard of education, and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school.” The report said conduct “varies” across the school.
Rates of attendance had become “concerningly low” over time, with persistent absence rising “rapidly.” School leadership had also failed to deal with incidents of bullying consistently well, according to the findings.
The report added: “This makes staff and pupils feel unsafe at times and disrupts pupils' learning. Staff have not accessed relevant training to develop the expertise that they need to improve this situation.”
Attainment and leadership
Regarding educational attainment, inspectors said many pupils do not develop the fluency they need in English and mathematics, which does not prepare Year 6 pupils well enough to access the curriculum and learning in Year 7 and beyond. In Year 6, disadvantaged pupils' attainment was described as “significantly lower than that of disadvantaged pupils nationally.”
The report said the leadership, which has since been replaced, had not ensured all pupils take a full part in school life. It added: “Some pupils feel that school is not for them. They do not cooperate with staff and often disengage with learning. This is because leaders do not meet their needs well enough.”
Interim leadership arrangements had been in place for most of the last academic year. Inspectors acknowledged safeguarding standards are being met, and that the school has strengths in phonics teaching and the caring relationships in the early years department.
Governors respond
Meryl Sangare, chair of governors, said the report had made for “difficult reading.” She said: “The inspection took place at the end of a very turbulent period of leadership in school, and this is reflected in the findings.
“We recognise that improvements are needed and are committed to addressing these swiftly, to ensure pupils receive a quality education. The whole staff team are working together with the governors to make the changes needed.
“We have given our full support to our newly appointed headteacher, Jill O’Brien, who had already identified areas that needed addressing and begun work on these before the inspection. She has been working with colleagues in the local authority and those recommended by Ofsted to bring further improvements that are needed to ensure that our pupils receive the education they deserve.
“Our focus remains on making school a better place for all our pupils, ensuring that we prepare them well for their next steps in education and life.”
