Ulverley School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 5 March 2024

Inspiration, achievement, and community are more than just words at Ulverley School. They are a call to action and high expectations. The school has undergone significant positive changes over the last few years, and consequently pupils' outcomes are getting better and better. This is a calm and welcoming community. Warm smiles and friendly interactions are common between staff and pupils. Most parents are positive about the support their child gets in school. One parent whose comments reflect the views of others said, 'Staff have successfully created a loving and friendly atmosphere.' Behaviour is positive and calm in lessons and at other times. Pupils have very positive attitudes to their learning, and there is a purposeful air of endeavour in lessons. On those rare occasions when behaviour is not positive, staff swiftly act to provide the right support. Playtimes are well supported by caring and attentive staff who provide pupils with various games and activities. In and after school, clubs develop opportunities to be sporty and active and perform in front of peers and parents. Dodgeball and rowing competitions develop a sense of being healthy and active. Occasional visits from a 'time-travelling professor' help to inspire a sense of awe and wonder.

What the school should improve

• Some of the younger pupils in school struggle to remember what they have done in previous lessons and how it relates to what they are doing now. They do not always get the support they need to recall previous learning, skills, and knowledge and apply them to the current lesson. The school should ensure that all pupils have consistent opportunities to retrieve previous learning to know how previous learning can help them solve current learning or build new skills.
• In some lessons and activities, the aim or focus of the lesson and how this relates to the long-term plan for that subject are not always clear. This confuses some pupils, who struggle to know how to get the most from the lessons. The school needs to ensure that the aim of the lesson is shared with the pupils, frequently reinforced, and then assessed to ensure that pupils get the most from each lesson.
• The quality of feedback to parents about how well their children achieve in school varies. This means that some parents cannot understand how they can best help their children or celebrate what they have achieved. The school needs to ensure that all parents receive high-quality feedback to inform them how successful their children have been in lessons and at other times.

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