Oak Cottage Primary School

Inspection of Oak Cottage Primary School Greswolde Road, Solihull, West Midlands B91 1DY

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years provision Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good 18–19 September 2019

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What is it like to attend this school?

This is a great school that pupils describe as a fun and fair place in which to learn. We agree.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Adults treat pupils kindly and teach them very well, so everyone feels valued and is able to succeed. In return, pupils’ behaviour is excellent. They respect others and go out of their way to be helpful. Unkind behaviour is rare but, if it happens, adults are quick to stop it. Whether in lessons or playing in the large well-kept grounds, pupils are safe and enjoy school.

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What is it like to attend this school?

In English, mathematics, science and many other subjects, pupils learn the right things in the right order and reach high standards. Even so, leaders are always looking for ways to help them do even better.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils have interesting lessons that often link subjects together in topics. They also take part in a huge range of clubs. From Bollywood dancing to gardening to being in a rock group, there is something for everyone. Furthermore, if anyone has a good idea about how to improve school life, leaders listen and are ready to make changes if they can.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Parents and carers are supportive and value the school. Calm, ambitious, thoughtful leadership means that there is super teamwork between everyone.

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better?

The superb leadership of Oak Cottage Primary School brings out the best in everyone. Leaders, staff and pupils work hard, aim high and enjoy school life. In English, mathematics, science and a raft of other subjects, teachers’ work is top notch and pupils excel. Teachers make sure that pupils work hard and learn a lot but there is also plenty of fun and laughter along the way. Quirky science topics, such as ‘burps, bottoms and bile’ for example, grab pupils’ attention and inspire them to find out new things. Importantly, new work builds perfectly on earlier work and teachers are always thinking ahead to what needs to be taught next. In addition, pupils understand the link between effort and success and the value of a thoughtful word or kind action.

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better?

When not in lessons, there are lots of other things to do. There are many well- attended clubs, plenty of outdoor space and play equipment, and trips out to places of interest. Pupils make the most of these extra activities, with disadvantaged pupils being equally involved as others. The school rock band club, which brings together pupil musicians, is just one of the truly exceptional activities on offer. Pupils in the band have visited Abbey Road Studios in London and performed at various venues near and far. Specialist teachers who work with the club or help with sport say they love coming to the school because the pupils are so keen, well behaved and responsive. Again, we agree. 18–19 September 2019

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Like other subjects, reading is taught very well. Phonics sessions are fun, brisk and purposeful and pupils regularly read in class and at home. From nursery rhymes to Shakespeare, pupils enjoy poems, stories and plays and recommend books to their classmates and the staff.

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In all subjects, pupils have many opportunities to stretch their minds and abilities. Extra support for pupils who need it is spot on and all pupils are proud of what they do at school. Whatever their abilities, everyone gets the chance to shine in many different ways.

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Staff are friendly and approachable and give parents lots of information about school life. Excellent communication between home and school helps children settle quickly in the Nursery and Reception classes. From day one, caring and highly effective teaching keeps them safe, busy, happy and keen.

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These positive attitudes, nurtured from the start, last all the way through to Year 6 and allow everyone to make the most of school. As pupils grow older, they learn to take responsibility, make decisions about school life and get involved in local events. They learn not to give up easily and can be relied upon to help out with whatever needs doing. Poor behaviour of any sort is unusual and, if it happens, staff and pupils work together to make sure it stops.

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Parents value the school and use words like ‘brilliant’ and ‘fantastic’ to describe what it provides for their children. They support learning at home and say that their children are happy to attend school. Pupils attend regularly, look smart and are hardly ever late.

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Even though the school is doing very well, leaders and governors are always looking for ways to improve it further. They listen to ideas from everyone in the school community and staff visit other schools to see what is happening and to help other teachers. As one governor put it, ‘We have ambitions for all to succeed and make sure we give them the tools to do so.’ Currently, leaders are changing planning in physical education (PE) to make sure it matches the levels of excellence seen elsewhere.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Everyone knows what to do if something does not seem right. Staff act quickly when necessary, keep careful records and let the right people know.

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Safeguarding

Leaders carry out all the proper checks on adults who work at the school. They keep the school site secure and in good condition. Medicines in school are stored in the right place and first aid treatment is on hand when needed.

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Safeguarding

Staff teach pupils how to look after themselves in different situations so that they learn how to manage everyday risks in sensible ways. Pupils of all ages know it is 18–19 September 2019

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important to report bullying, should it happen. They also know that other pupils and adults will help them if they have a problem.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use Ofsted Parent View information when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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How can I feed back my views?

If you’re not happy with the inspection or the report, you can complain to Ofsted .

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 18–19 September 2019

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School details

Inspection number 10088412 Type of school Primary

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Website www.oak-cottage.solihull.sch.uk/

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School details

Date of previous inspection 21 June 2018

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Information about this school

 We last inspected the school in June 2018 under section 8. That inspection confirmed the school’s good judgement and found evidence of marked improvement. This is why we returned in September 2019 to carry out a full section 5 inspection.  The school runs a Nursery class in the mornings for children aged three to four years old.

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Information about this inspection

We carried out this inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 During the inspection, we focused in particular on the following subjects: reading, mathematics, science and PE. In these subjects, we visited lessons, looked at pupils’ work, examined teachers’ plans and talked with pupils and staff about the way these subjects were taught. We also looked at other subjects in less detail to check how they were organised and taught.  We examined external performance data about the school and looked at school documents. These included information about behaviour, attendance, the school curriculum and improvement planning. The school’s website was also checked. 18–19 September 2019

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 We asked pupils, staff, leaders and governors about safeguarding arrangements. We examined the record of employment checks on school staff and looked at other school records. We also found out about safety procedures and routines at the school.  We watched pupils’ behaviour in class and at other times during the day.  During the inspection, we had formal meetings with the headteacher, subject leaders, governors, teachers and pupils. We also talked informally with pupils, staff and parents to gather general information about school life. One of us spoke on the telephone to a local authority education adviser.  By the end of the inspection, there were 45 recent responses to Ofsted’s online questionnaire, Parent View. We considered these and looked at the responses to Ofsted’s online questionnaires for staff and pupils.

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Inspection team

Martin Pye, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Chris Pollitt Her Majesty’s Inspector 18–19 September 2019

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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