Ofsted: Welwyn Garden City primary school 'requires improvement'

During Creswick Primary and Nursery School's routine review held in December, inspectors deemed that some teaching staff do not have "sufficiently secure subject knowledge".  

This means that teaching does not routinely support pupils to remember and understand what they have learned.

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The report, published on March 6, said: "Daily phonics sessions support pupils with their early reading and pupils are keen to learn. However, staff knowledge and expertise to deliver effective phonics teaching varies.  

"Pupils do not always learn their phonics as well as they should. Pupils enjoy practising the sounds they have learned. This includes when reading books that are carefully matched to their level of ability." 

The inspectors also criticised subject leaders and their "limited capacity to check how well the curriculum is being taught".  

Regarding what the school did well, the report stated that recently appointed senior leaders have started to take decisive action to address key weaknesses in the school’s provision.  

In class, pupils are respectful and productive. During lessons, teaching and learning is rarely disrupted.  

In most circumstances, teachers make effective use of these checks to address any misconceptions that pupils have.  

Teaching staff have also developed a detailed support plan that are matched to pupils’ needs. Consequently, pupils with SEND are able to access the curriculum alongside their classmates. 

Since its previous inspection, Creswick has seen a change in leadership. 

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Headteacher Nicola Covington said: "While we acknowledge that, at the point last term when Ofsted visited Creswick, there were still some areas which continued to require improvement to be securely 'good', we are delighted that Ofsted recognised the significant improvements already made.  

"Much of the report is very positive and the areas for development were those already identified in the School Improvement Plan. Behaviour and attitudes and personal development were judged to be already 'good'.  

"This reflects the huge amount of effort by our excellent staff team in creating a whole school ethos of purposeful learning and respect for others."

Mrs Covington went on to thank the staff, parents, pupils and governors.

To view the full report, go to reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/117229.