South Yorkshire primary school branded inadequate in inspection report

A Mexborough primary school has been branded inadequate in a damning new report.
Mexborough Highwoods Primary school, Highwoods Road. Picture: Marie CaleyMexborough Highwoods Primary school, Highwoods Road. Picture: Marie Caley
Mexborough Highwoods Primary school, Highwoods Road. Picture: Marie Caley

Inspectors from education watchdog Ofsted judged Mexborough Highwoods Primary as inadequate in three out of few key areas following a visit in March.

Leaders at the school said they have immediately put an action plan in place to address the areas of concern and reassured parents that improvements will continue.

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Inspectors said the effectiveness of leadership and management, the quality of teaching and pupils' outcomes all require improvement.

However personal development, behaviour and welfare and early years provision was judged to be good.

In their report, inspectors were critical of the quality of teaching and effectiveness of school leaders with many who are new to their post having not developed the appropriate skills to support the school in the drive for improvement.

But they praised the behaviour of pupils, the relationships between staff and pupils and the well-planned curriculum.

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They highlighted several areas for the school to improve - the quality and impact of leadership and management and teaching learning and assessment.

Chair of governors, Jan Smith, reassured parents that developments have taken place and will continue to improve teaching and learning.

She said: "As a school we were disappointed in the overall outcome but were pleased that our personal, development behaviour and welfare and early years were judged to be good.

"Following the inspection, we immediately put in place an action plan to address the areas that had been identified as those we needed to improve.

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"We are working with our partnership schools and the local authority to support our work to improve further.

"We are confident that we are able to address these areas and reassure our parents that the developments that have taken place to improve teaching and learning over the last year will continue and become even stronger.”