Primary pupils 'not fully prepared' for high school

Many pupils at a primary school are not being "fully prepared for the next stage of their education", inspectors have found.

Education watchdog Ofsted said aspects including achievement, curriculum, teaching, early years and inclusion at Woodlands Primary School in Birkenhead, Wirral, "need attention" but it praised work the school had done to try and improve things.

Ofsted no longer uses a one or two-word grading system and instead ranks schools using a report card system.

Head teacher, Gemma Crosthwaite said the areas highlighted for improvement were "already priorities within our school improvement plans" but she was pleased inspectors had "recognised the positive culture within Woodlands".

The report card system grades various elements of a school's performance under the categories of "exceptional", "strong standard", "expected standard", "needs attention" and "urgent improvement".

The latest report on the school, located on Hollybank Road, has been published following an inspection in June.

The majority of the aspects graded have been ranked "needs attention", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

While the report praised work that had taken place to improve the curriculum, it said: "Pupils continue to make basic errors in their work that teaching does not routinely identify or address.

"Sometimes, teaching does not spot and correct misconceptions quickly enough."

The report also said: "Over time, pupils do not achieve well enough in tests at the end of key stage 2.

"Pupils' attainment in reading and writing remains below national averages, meaning many pupils are not fully prepared for the next stage of their education."

The early years provision at the school is said to be generally "well structured and progressive".

However, while the phonics teaching is praised, the report said the provision was not as effective in helping children learn "basic skills, such as letter formation, number formation and pencil grip".

The school was graded "expected standard" in attendance and behaviour, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing.

Crosthwaite said she welcomed the report and "the recognition it gives to the progress being made across the school which recent SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) data supports".

"We are particularly pleased that inspectors recognised the positive culture within Woodlands, the strength of our pastoral support, the improvements in behaviour and attendance, and the commitment of our staff, governors and families," she said.

She said they were equally clear about the areas where further work was needed, adding all of these "are already priorities within our school improvement plans".

The school team was committed to ensuring the changes they had introduced continued to improve outcomes for every child, she added.

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