Rawmarsh Ashwood Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 November 2023

Pupils are happy and safe at this school. They enjoy coming to school and attend regularly. The school has rigorous and successful procedures in place to ensure that attendance is high. Pupils benefit from caring and supportive relationships with staff. The school has high ambitions for pupils at this school, including those pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders have a clear vision for implementing a high-quality education for pupils. However, pupils do not achieve as well as they should in reading and writing by the end of key stage 2. Some aspects of the curriculum design do not provide pupils with the opportunities to learn to read and write as well as they should. The school has been through a turbulent period due to changes in staffing and the COVID-19 pandemic. This has impacted on the rate of development in some curriculum areas. Pupils behave well in lessons and around school. They follow the expectations set out in 'The Ashwood Way'. This helps pupils to cooperate and to be respectful. Pupils appreciate the rewards that they receive for behaving sensibly and for working hard in lessons. These include 'points' that can be exchanged for prizes. Pupils understand the importance of equality. They enjoy and appreciate the opportunities they have to debate these issues in school. Leaders strengthen this learning through the school's assembly programme. Pupils carry out a range of leadership responsibilities, such as being school councillors, science ambassadors and sports leaders.

What the school should improve

• Some pupils in key stage 1 lack the knowledge they need to take part in whole- class phonics lessons. This means that learning time is lost. The school should review the phonics provision for these pupils to ensure that any gaps in knowledge are addressed to help these pupils to catch up quickly.
• The school does not provide sufficient opportunities for pupils in key stage 2, who are still learning to read, to read to an adult regularly. This means that gaps in knowledge and misconceptions are not addressed quickly enough. Too many pupils move on to secondary school with below average reading attainment. The school should ensure staff dedicate regular opportunities to listen to these pupils read and take timely action to address any gaps in learning.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)