Setting

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

p.1

Ian Travis Headteacher Glebe School Hawes Lane West Wickham Kent BR4 9AE

p.1

Ofsted visit to Glebe School

Following my visit with Madeleine Gerard, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 20 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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Glebe 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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Glebe 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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Glebe School

During the visit, we spoke to you and the senior leadership team, including the senior leader responsible for safeguarding We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

p.1

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.

p.1

Context

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

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 The school opened fully to pupils on 3 September. All pupils are expected to attend full time.  Attendance is currently below the normal attendance level for this time of year. Leaders encourage better attendance by working with external agencies to ensure that transport to school is socially distanced and by communicating with parents about school procedures.  Leaders have prioritised pupils’ academic learning. Pupils in all year groups are studying their usual range of subjects. Some changes have been made within subjects such as geography, where trips and residentials are not currently possible. Leaders intend to return pupils to the normal curriculum by summer 2021 or earlier if restrictions allow this.  Staff have assessed pupils’ new starting points in all subjects, and in their social and personal skills. Leaders have learned that pupils’ speech and language, reading and problem-solving skills have been affected by the time

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

away from school. Leaders have employed additional staff to develop pupils’ communication skills, extended class reading time, and developed a programme to promote problem solving in physical education and outdoor learning.  Leaders have devised a new study-skills course to support Year 10 pupils starting GCSE courses. In Year 11, pupils have additional tuition in English, mathematics and science.  In the sixth form, leaders have used assessment information to support students with a new personal development programme and qualification.  Leaders have put remote education in place on the school’s website. They are also researching other approaches to remote education should remote learning be needed again.

p.2

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.

p.3

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of trustees and the director of children’s services for Bromley. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3