Setting

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

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Barbara Wightwick Headteacher St Johns Walham Green Church of England Primary School Filmer Road Fulham London SW6 6AS

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Ofsted visit to St Johns Walham Green Church of England Primary School

Following my visit with Sarah Murphy, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 22 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 St Johns Walham Green Church of England 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 St Johns Walham Green Church of England 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 St Johns Walham Green Church of England Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to you and members of the senior leadership team. 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. 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:

 You opened the school to pupils in Years 1 to 6, on 7 September 2020. Nursery and Reception children started on 14 September. Children in the early years were attending school full time by 16 September 2020.  Pupils’ attendance is similar to usual for this time of year. During the visit, a Year 3 class ‘bubble’ was isolating. All pupils attend the school full time.  Pupils in Years 2, 3 and 4 no longer have lessons in Mandarin. This is because of the difficulties in sourcing an overseas Mandarin teacher, who would normally be at the school. All other pupils attending the school are studying the same subjects as they usually would.  Teachers have given pupils in Years 1 to 6 tests in reading, writing and mathematics. These tests have been used by teachers to focus on specific areas of the curriculum to practise with pupils. For example, teachers have regular sessions to revisit pupils’ understanding of spelling, grammar and

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

punctuation.  In mathematics, teachers deliver short daily revision sessions in addition to their normal lessons. Teachers use these sessions to build on pupils’ knowledge and understanding of number bonds and number facts.  In reading, pupils in Years 1 and 2 have extra phonics (letters and the sounds they represent) lessons. These include a focus on revising high-frequency words.  Pupils continue to study other subjects, including physical education, music and science. Leaders plan to introduce a ‘themed week’ each half term. They intend that pupils will revisit themes and practical activities that may have been missed during the period when schools were only open to some children due to COVID-19 restrictions.  Currently, a small number of pupils who are isolating receive remote education. Teachers are planning to deliver the curriculum remotely should it be required.

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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 chair of the governing body, the director of education for the Diocese of London, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Hammersmith and Fulham. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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