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

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Gillian Powe Headteacher Bishop Road Primary Bishop Road Bishopston Bristol BS7 8LS

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Ofsted visit to Bishop Road Primary School

Following my visit with Tonwen Empson, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 13 October 2020, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the visit’s findings. Thank you for the time you made available to discuss your actions since September 2020, when the government expected all schools to open fully to all pupils.

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Ofsted visit to Bishop Road Primary School

This visit was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended) and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for visiting schools while routine inspections are temporarily suspended.

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Ofsted visit to Bishop Road Primary School

Ofsted’s visits to schools during the autumn term are not inspections. We are not giving graded judgements. We did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work. The content of this letter gives an overview of our discussions about what has happened in your school this term.

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Ofsted visit to Bishop Road Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to you, the deputy headteacher, who is also the school’s designated safeguarding lead, the pastoral leader, the curriculum development leader and the attendance officer. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

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Context

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s education system is managing the return to full education for pupils following an extended break in formal schooling due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

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Context

In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

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Context

 approximately 1,200 schools across all Ofsted grades (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate)  maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and centres of alternative provision, including those in cities, and coastal, town or rural communities.

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Context

The information from this visit will feed into Ofsted’s national reporting so that the insights can be shared with the government and the education sector. We did not find any significant concerns during the visit. In such a case, an inspection report would be published on our website and available to parents and carers.

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Context

We did not consider your response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer terms 2020, when the school was not open to all pupils.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 The school opened to pupils in Years 1 to 6 on 1 September 2020. Reception- aged children attended for half-days for the first five days of term and full time from 17 September 2020.  Pupils’ attendance is above that normally seen at this time of year. Leaders say that there has been less pupil absence due to fewer family holidays taking place during term time.  Year group leaders have identified certain aspects of some subjects that were not taught in the summer term. Teachers have adjusted their planning for this term, drawing into existing themes elements that were missed out previously. Leaders anticipate that the school’s normal curriculum will be reinstated by the spring term 2021.  You told us that teachers’ assessments show that pupils in Reception have started school with better-than-expected early reading skills. Leaders have invested in reading materials including purchasing an additional reading

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

scheme. As the school library remains closed, the librarian is supporting teachers to expand class lending libraries.  In mathematics, leaders say that some pupils have fallen behind with their basic number skills, and accuracy with written calculations. Staff are introducing new content more slowly and giving pupils extra time to revisit and consolidate previous learning.  In all subjects, staff make checks on pupils’ understanding at the beginning of each lesson. If necessary, pupils revisit key concepts before moving on to new content.  If pupils are absent due to awaiting COVID-19 testing, they can access learning in all subjects remotely. Staff plan and provide a range of learning tasks that are connected to the school’s face-to-face lessons.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the co-chairs of the governing body, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Bristol. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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