Telford school fumes over timing of Ofsted’s visit

A primary school in Telford which was judged to be ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted inspectors 12 months ago is protesting after being given a ‘notice to improve’ following an inspection earlier this year.

Education watchdog Ofsted warned Lawley Primary School that it had been given a notice to improve after the leadership and management of the school were graded as inadequate.

But headteacher Carol McQuiggin said the inspectors’ visit came at an unfortunate time as students were sitting exams and three days later new staff were appointed.

School governors have made a formal complaint to Ofsted about the conduct of the lead inspector.

Mrs McQuiggin said: “It was a pity that they chose to inspect in the same week that all of the older children in the school were sitting statutory tests. It was also a shame that they were in school for such a short time as this did not enable them to discover the rich and diverse learning that characterises our school.”

Under the new 2012 Ofsted inspection arrangements, the quality of teaching, pupils’ achievement and the behaviour and safety of the pupils were all judged as satisfactory.

But leadership and management of the school were graded as inadequate because Ofsted’s new inspection framework demands outstanding judgements from the previous inspection should have been maintained.