Broadwood Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Strong and trusting relationships are the hallmark of this welcoming and inclusive school.

Leaders have transformed the school. They make it their priority to get to know the pupils in their care. They do all they can to nurture and support them.

Pupils talk with enthusiasm about their learning and the opportunities they receive. This creates a 'buzz' about the school. Pupils know that their teachers want the absolute best for them.

They reciprocate this by trying their hardest.

Leaders set high expectations for pupils' behaviour. A restorative approach helps them to achieve this.

This is paying dividends. The school is calm and orderly. Mos...t lessons are free of disruption.

Older pupils talk sensibly about how their behaviour has improved and how they are more considerate of others.

Pupils are confident that 'bullying does not happen here'. They learn about the different types of bullying and the importance of telling an adult.

Playtimes are lively occasions. Pupils relish the opportunity to play in the extensive grounds. They demonstrate excitement and wonder in their play.

Pupils enjoy the wider opportunities on offer. Older pupils are particularly excited about their forthcoming trip to Barcelona. They describe it as being 'the trip of a lifetime'.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

There is much to celebrate at Broadwood. New leaders are driving improvements in all aspects of school life. They have a strong focus on improving pupils' outcomes, which historically have been too low.

A new, ambitious curriculum is in place. It considers pupils' starting points and addresses gaps in their learning.

Leaders in all subjects have mapped out the important knowledge pupils will learn.

Assessment strategies are woven into curriculum plans. Teachers use such strategies to check what pupils know and can do. Reading, oracy, personal development and aspiration underpin all curriculum thinking.

They are a strong feature in all subjects.

Leaders are determined that all pupils will learn to read. There is a carefully crafted approach to developing pupils' reading confidence and stamina.

This is bearing fruit. Staff access high-quality training to help them deliver the phonics programme effectively. Regular checks on what pupils know mean they receive timely support to keep up.

Pupils practise their reading daily. They use books that are well matched to their phonics knowledge to do so. As a result, current pupils are making better progress in their reading.

In mathematics, content is sequenced well. Opportunities for pupils to revisit and consolidate their learning are frequent. This is helping to build pupils' mathematical knowledge and skills securely.

Pupils say they 'love maths'. They can talk about their current and previous learning with confidence. They show resilience when tackling more demanding work.

Leaders have introduced a new approach to the teaching of writing. This has improved the quality of pupils' fiction writing successfully. There is more to do to improve the quality of pupils' writing in other styles where inconsistency remains.

In other subjects, leaders have created 'knowledge developers'. These provide a handy prompt for pupils. They identify the smaller chunks of knowledge and important vocabulary pupils must learn.

They are a consistent feature in lessons and are helping pupils to remember more. 'Concept maps' add greater detail to curriculum plans. They show the important concepts that deepen pupils' understanding.

In this aspect of the curriculum, there is greater variability. For example, in science, there is a lack of precision in how pupils will acquire the conceptual understanding to work scientifically.

Children in the early years are curious in their play.

Effective questioning and interactions with adults support children's development. Leaders have reviewed curriculum plans to make sure that children have the important knowledge they need to be ready for Year 1.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are fully involved in school life.

Staff receive regular training to ensure they have the knowledge needed to support pupils with a range of needs. Pupils in the unit for the hearing-impaired receive expert guidance to access the full curriculum.

The school's culture and ethos contribute effectively to pupils' personal development.

Curriculum content is structured well. Pupils learn about themselves and others often and with increasing complexity. Leaders adapt the curriculum to address contextual issues.

For example, leaders made a prompt and appropriate response to a spate in knife crime across the region.

Governors provide effective support and challenge to school leaders. Staff well-being and workload are important considerations for them.

Staff recognise and welcome such support.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Robust recruitment procedures ensure that anyone wishing to work at the school is suitably vetted.

Leaders and governors make certain that all staff receive regular and comprehensive safeguarding training.

Staff know their pupils well. They are alert to any changes in pupils' demeanour that may be a cause for concern.

Safeguarding records show the timeliness of staff in their reporting. Leaders are prompt to follow up such concerns.

Pupils learn about important ways in which to keep themselves safe, particularly when accessing the internet or social media.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Previous approaches to the teaching of writing and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to weaknesses in pupils' writing skills. This means that the quality of pupils' writing is variable when writing for different purposes. Leaders should strengthen further the new approach to the teaching of writing so that pupils' outcomes continue to improve and remaining inconsistencies in the quality of writing are ironed out.

• In some subjects, leaders have not mapped out the core concepts clearly. Pupils do not have consistent opportunities to extend their thinking and deepen their understanding. Leaders should address this aspect of curriculum planning so that all pupils receive increasing opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of key concepts in all subjects.