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

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Michelle Kenny Headteacher Whiteheath Junior School Whiteheath Avenue Ruislip Middlesex HA4 7PR

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Ofsted remote visit to Whiteheath Junior School

Following my remote visit with Mark Phillips, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 5 November 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 remote visit to Whiteheath Junior 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. Following changes to government guidance and the imposition of COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions, we made this visit remotely to reduce pressure on the school.

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Ofsted remote visit to Whiteheath Junior 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 remote visit to Whiteheath Junior School

During the visit, we spoke to you and the senior leadership team. We did not speak to pupils.

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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 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 all pupils on 3 September 2020.  Pupils’ attendance is at a similar level to normal for this time of year. All pupils attend the school full time.  All pupils attending the school are studying the same subjects as they usually would.  Teachers have made changes to what pupils learn in some subjects. For example, in physical education lessons there is a greater focus on yoga and fitness. In music, pupils learn to use instruments, including the guitar, but do not currently use woodwind instruments.  In science, pupils do not carry out their own experiments. They observe teachers who undertake practical investigations. Leaders intend that pupils will start doing their own experiments in the spring term.  Teachers have given pupils in Years 3 to 6 tests in reading, writing and mathematics. The findings have been used by teachers to provide additional support to identified pupils in these subjects. Leaders intend to give pupils

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

additional tests later in the autumn term.  Teachers provide additional phonics sessions to pupils in Year 3. They prioritise the revision of phonics knowledge pupils may have missed out on during the period when schools were only open to some children due to COVID-19 restrictions.  In mathematics, subject plans have been slightly amended. Teachers have focused more on developing pupils’ calculation methods this term. Teachers intend to focus on revising some topics later in the year, for example fractions and shape, space and measure.  Teachers are planning to deliver subjects remotely should it be needed. This includes setting some online work for pupils. Teachers plan to give some pupils printed homework packs when appropriate.

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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 regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Hillingdon. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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