Setting

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

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Dave Hill Operational Headteacher Oakwood Primary School Cotswold Road Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL52 5HD

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Ofsted remote visit to Oakwood Primary School

Following my remote visit with Matt Middlemore, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 1 December 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 Oakwood 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. 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 Oakwood 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 remote visit to Oakwood Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to 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:

 Since the start of term, a small number of pupils have had to work from home for short periods.  Pupils are studying the full range of subjects. You have adapted the order in which pupils learn the curriculum in computing, design technology and physical education, considering the protective measures you have in place.  You have found that pupils have got out of the habit of regular reading. In response, teachers are sharing more texts with pupils in class and linking these to the wider curriculum. You have arranged one-to-one support for pupils who need to catch up.  Pupils have lost some of their stamina for writing. To address this, you are providing prompts and more time for pupils to talk through their ideas. When pupils become tired, they are taking short breaks outdoors.  In mathematics, your assessments have shown that pupils have lost some of their quick recall of number facts. Teachers are supporting pupils to regain

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

their fluency with numbers in daily practice sessions.  In the wider curriculum, you have given a high priority to personal, social and health education to promote pupils’ well-being. You have reviewed the arrangements for the teaching of art. Pupils are studying art as a standalone subject.  As far as possible, pupils study the same curriculum as their peers when they are working from home. Teachers adapt the work provided to pupils’ interests and needs. Pupils upload photographs of their work and receive feedback from their teacher. Pupils are able to keep in touch with their classmates through online meetings.  A significant number of families are not able to access a remote education online. You have provided devices and paper-based work where necessary.

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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 Gloucestershire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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