Ofsted Report

HMI Monitoring Visit

Please find attached the letter received in response to the first HMI monitoring visit undertaken at the end of January 2017. The outcome of this visit was that HMI recognised that senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the last section 5 inspection in order to become a good school.

In December 2015 Ofsted inspected Wrenbury Primary School.

You can view our Ofsted Report here
or the Ofsted Data Dashboard here

A response to our Ofsted Report from the Chair of Governors to our school community.

Dear parent /carer,

Following our school's recent Ofsted Inspection, please find attached our report.

Whilst the report identifies the school as Requiring Improvement, it is important to put this judgement in context. Ofsted measure the progress of the school over time; that means between the last Inspection in January 2012 to the recent Inspection undertaken in December 2015- a span of nearly 4 years.

When reading the report, you will see clearly that the school has gone through a period of decline in teaching and learning and consequently results. Ofsted, however, has recognised the positive impact of our appointment of Mrs Cador as head teacher in moving the school forward: "The leadership of the head teacher, supported by a rejuvenated governing body, is setting the school on a successful road to recovery...She has the future in her sights and pupils' success in her heart". The inspectors recognised that, "Her honest appraisal of the school's strengths and weaknesses means work is already underway to tackle shortcomings."

Ms Huntington as Deputy Head and our EYFS lead is also recognised in her role as impacting positively on the work needed to move the school forward: "The early years leader is forging ahead to bring about change so that children enjoy greater success in their learning...and...has been instrumental in lifting children's outcomes and ensuring they have a smoother transition to the next stage of their education."

There have been considerable staff changes over a number of years at the school but "Everyone is excited about the potential of shaping a new staff team. Teachers and teaching assistants are completely on board. Everyone is keen to do their bit and staff morale is high." The school is fortunate to now have teachers that "are brimming over with enthusiasm in their desire to become the best". This is the firm foundation needed from which, we believe, the school can now build to meet its potential.

There are so many positives including the "beautiful" and "remarkable" cross-curricular 'Learning Journey' books and the "carefully crafted curriculum to ensure pupils gain key skills and knowledge through creative topics", the personal development and behaviour of our "well-rounded" children. We are very proud that "Our children are happy to enter school and keen to make the most of all it has to offer. Their positive attitudes, good conduct and impeccable manners make a strong contribution to the welcome visitors receive and their progress during lessons".

There is work to be done, especially in the teaching of writing, mathematics and phonics, to ensure better outcomes for all pupils and to ensure that the quality of teaching and learning is the best it can be. We will be monitoring this closely with Mrs Cador as a Governing Body and will also receive regular visits from HMI (Her Majesty's Inspectors) to support and challenge the progress we are making.

We are proud of the work that has already been started in school to drive the school forward since Mrs Cador's appointment and know that the strong commitment of all her staff, with our support, will help the school to regain a 'good' overall judgement in the future as the "capacity for bringing about the necessary improvements is strong".

We highly recommend you read the full report to fully appreciate the strengths and opportunities Wrenbury Primary School offers its families and especially its children and to see the good work that is already underway to address the weaknesses of the past.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs Jenny Davies
(Chair of Governors on behalf of the Governing Body)