A Bath school and the trust that runs it have been praised for taking “great strides” to improve after a critical Ofsted inspection last year.
The entrance to St Martin’s Garden Primary School | Image © Google Street View / Google 2024
St Martin’s Garden Primary School at Lympsham Green at Odd Down is part of Palladian Academy Trust.
In 2019 the school was told it needed to improve in all categories.
Then last summer the school was told it still needed to improve leadership and management and the quality of education, with early years provision, children’s personal development and their behaviour and attitudes all said to be good.
Following a recent monitoring visit, an Ofsted inspector says leaders have made progress to improve the school, but some aspects need further improvement.
In a letter to the co-headteachers, the inspector said they had started during the week of the inspection, following a period where they had supported the school alongside the previous headteacher.
The inspector said: “This seamless transition in leadership has meant your staff have felt well supported through this time of change.
“The school and trust have worked together closely. You have taken great strides to address the areas for improvement highlighted in the previous inspection report.
“Although some work needs time to embed and requires further refinement, it is clear that the school is moving swiftly forward in these areas.
“Leaders’ actions have included deciding on the most important knowledge pupils need to learn. You have ensured learning is sequenced so that it builds over time.
“This helpful layering of knowledge was evident in the lessons visited. The actions you are taking are having a positive impact on the quality of education pupils are receiving.”
This is also said to be the case for pupils at the school’s resource base and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.
The school and trust leaders are commended for “wasting no time” to act on the areas highlighted by the previous inspection report, making the necessary changes to start improving the quality of education and develop leaders at all levels.
However, pupils are said to have a more secure understanding of some subjects than others, and teachers do not always address misconceptions promptly enough, although pupils are beginning to remember their learning long term.
