Shropshire primary school disagrees with Ofsted evaluation after 'highly unusual' inspection
School leaders said they did not agree with Ofsted’s findings
A Shropshire school has contested the results of an Ofsted report after an inspection in what it called “highly unusual circumstances”.
St Peter's CofE Primary School in Wem has moved to assure parents that their children are being “wonderfully supported” after an Ofsted inspection flagged several areas for improvement.
While the new report praised the school’s Early Years provision and the behaviour of pupils, it said four areas of the school - achievement, curriculum, inclusion and leadership - “needs attention”.
But the school has written to parents to say the inspection took place amid an “exceptionally unusual set of circumstances” with the headteacher less than 10 days into her new role and without the school’s established leadership team.
In a letter to parents, headteacher Cathy Davies said: “At the point the inspection began, I had been in post for fewer than 10 days.
“Prior to the inspection, there were significant personal circumstances that meant that all other key members of the school's leadership team were not available. As a result, the school entered the inspection without its established leadership team.”
The school said it requested a deferral from Ofsted and sought legal advice, but the inspection went ahead anyway.
The letter said the inspection was led by the trust’s central leadership team who “do not have the benefit of daily operational leadership knowledge of the school” and parts of the inspection were “challenging”.
“Because of the highly unusual circumstances of the inspection, we do not agree with the final evaluation of Ofsted,” the letter concluded.
“However, we have to accept this and reassure you that we have been swift and strong in thoroughly reviewing their comments and ensuring actions are taken - where needed - to keep moving our school forward.
“Please be reassured that the school continues to move forward positively. The children are being wonderfully supported, and the dedication of the staff at St Peter's remains second to none.”
Headteacher Cathy Davies said the school leaders “look forward” to inviting inspectors back to the primary school and said the school’s commitment was reflected in its “fantastic SATS results and the smiles on our children's faces every day”.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.