Setting

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

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Kate Lewin Headteacher Hooe Primary Academy 40 Hooe Road Hooe Plymouth PL9 9RG

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Ofsted visit to Hooe Primary Academy

Following my visit with Matt Middlemore, 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 Hooe Primary Academy

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 Hooe Primary Academy

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 Hooe Primary Academy

During the visit, we spoke to you and the assistant headteacher. 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:

 You opened the school to all pupils on 3 September 2020. Children joining the Reception class attended part time for the first three weeks of term.  Pupils’ current rates of attendance are similar to those seen at this time last year.  You introduced a well-being curriculum for the first two weeks of term. Teachers also used this period to check what pupils had remembered in reading, writing and mathematics. Pupils began studying their usual curriculum from 21 September 2020.  In mathematics, teachers found that some pupils have forgotten number facts and how to solve problems. You have made changes to your curriculum so that pupils can revisit this area of learning.  Teachers found that some pupils need additional reading support. Some pupils have forgotten how to blend letter sounds. A programme of revision has started, to help pupils catch up.  Teachers have checked what pupils know and have remembered in science,

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

history and geography. You have plans to check all subjects by the end of term.  Children in the Reception class are following the early years curriculum. You told us that some children need more help with their communication and language skills. You have adjusted the curriculum to focus on this area of learning.  You have developed a system to deliver the curriculum remotely should the need arise. You are confident that all pupils will continue to be able to access the curriculum.

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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 board of trustees, and the chief executive officer of the Horizon multi-academy trust, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Plymouth. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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