A PRIMARY school’s governors have been told they need more ‘information’ and ‘expertise’ so they can hold it to account better.
And Ofsted inspectors believe Audenshaw Primary must record staff concerns over pupils’ welfare in a more consistent manner.
The Sidmouth Street establishment has been graded as ‘requires improvement’ following the latest visit on October 10 and 11.
And among concerns raised in its report, Ofsted believes: “Governors do not have enough information or expertise to hold the school to account for some aspects of its work. This hinders the school from identifying and addressing areas of weaker practice.
“The school and the governing body do not have sufficient oversight of the quality of education that pupils receive.
“This has prevented the governing body from providing a sufficient level of challenge to the school.
“Those responsible for governance should ensure that they have the knowledge and information that they need to improve the quality of education for pupils.
“The school does not record staff’s concerns about pupils’ welfare in a consistent manner. This hinders the school and governors in their efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements.
“The school, including governors, does not ensure that its safeguarding records are comprehensive enough. However, pupils are not at risk of harm.
“Some pupils do not behave as well as they should. From time to time, the behaviour of these pupils disturbs the learning of others.
“The programme for pupils’ wider personal development is underdeveloped. This means that pupils do not learn as much as they should about some important topics, for example bullying.”
Ofsted found several elements Audenshaw Primary does well and pupils’ appreciation of what it offers.
The report adds: “The school is ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils typically achieve well.
“Pupils said that they appreciate and enjoy the variety of activities on offer to them at playtimes. They can also choose to expand their hobbies and interests, for example by engaging in a range of sports clubs or by joining the school choir.
“Teachers are equally adept at identifying, and supporting, those pupils who may have SEND, or those who may be struggling with their learning.
“Consequently, pupils, including those with SEND, achieve well.”
Ofsted highlighted Audenshaw has made ‘judicious use of external expertise to help it to develop a broad and balanced curriculum.’
And its early years offering, even the work it is doing to rectify shortcomings, was praised in the report, which states: “The school acknowledges that older pupils have not benefited from reading as wide a range of books and texts as they should have.
“It has recently made improvements to the English curriculum to address this shortfall.
“The school has thought carefully about what the youngest children should learn about the wider world and life in modern Britain.
“This learning is fully integrated into the early years’ curriculum. This helps staff to support children’s personal development well.”