Setting

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Michelle Crawford Headteacher Our Lady & St Hubert’s Catholic Primary School Moat Road Oldbury West Midlands B68 8ED

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Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 11 December 2019, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the inspection findings. The findings do not change the overall effectiveness judgement of outstanding from the last section 5 inspection.

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Primary School

This inspection was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for a no formal designation inspection of schools. The inspection was carried out to enable Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector to better understand the quality of education in specific subjects provided by outstanding primary schools.

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Main findings

Senior leaders took the decision to stop teaching Spanish or any other foreign language in the summer term of 2018. They introduced Makaton, a sign communication system, which is not a recognised language. Leaders believed that Makaton would support pupils’ communication skills as a greater number of pupils with speech, language and communication difficulties joined their school. This means that since June 2018, leaders have not offered a broad range of subjects in key stage 2 with at least the same breadth, depth and ambition as the national curriculum. Pupils in all year groups do not have an opportunity to study a foreign language.

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Main findings

You and other senior leaders acted quickly to evaluate the curriculum when you took up post in November 2019. You have made the decision to reintroduce Spanish into the curriculum. Plans are now in place to begin the teaching of Spanish in February 2020.

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Main findings

Leaders understand the value and benefits of learning a foreign language and have placed a much greater emphasis on the skills pupils need to be successful learners. You and your colleagues have mapped out the skills you want pupils to learn in Spanish. Language acquisition and communication skills in Spanish are clearly set out within the new curriculum. Senior leaders now are ambitious for their pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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Main findings

Leaders have begun to liaise with the secondary schools that most of their pupils will attend to ensure that pupils are well equipped to continue their language studies in key stage 3. Subject and lesson plans are currently under development. Staff training is planned to ensure that all staff have secure subject knowledge.

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Evidence

I met with you and the curriculum leader, and held a telephone conversation with the executive headteacher. I spoke to pupils from Years 5 and 6 about their learning in Spanish in the past. I evaluated the curriculum plans for Spanish and school policies for modern languages.

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Context

Your school is a larger-than-average primary school. It is a Catholic faith school. There are currently 361 pupils on roll. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is average. The proportion of pupils who are entitled to free school meals is average. The school has a below-average proportion of pupils with SEND, including pupils with education, health and care plans.

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Context

I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of trustees and the regional schools commissioner and the Director of Children’s Services for Sandwell. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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