Setting

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

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John Galvin Headteacher Petworth Church of England Primary School South Grove Petworth West Sussex GU28 0EE

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Ofsted visit to Petworth Church of England Primary School

Following my visit with Yasmin Maskatiya, Her Majesty's Inspector (HMI), to your school on 3 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 visit to Petworth 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 Petworth 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 Petworth Church of England Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to you and the deputy 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. 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, one in three pupils have had to study from home for a limited time.  Pupils are studying all subjects in the school’s usual curriculum, apart from French which has been paused for pupils in Year 6. You have made some adaptations to practical aspects of some subjects. You aim to return to the full curriculum by summer 2021, if not sooner.  Teachers have checked pupils’ knowledge in reading, writing and mathematics. Assessments have identified that pupils need support with vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and handwriting. Teachers are providing opportunities for pupils to practise these aspects across a range of subjects.  You have given phonics and reading a high priority. Teachers have adjusted phonics teaching to make sure pupils catch up with any learning they have missed. Across all year groups, teachers are providing additional reading opportunities to reignite pupils’ love for reading.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 In mathematics, there is a whole school focus on increasing pupils’ understanding of number. Teachers are helping younger pupils to secure their knowledge of number bonds. They are supporting older pupils to improve their recall of mathematical facts, such as their times tables. Teachers are also working with pupils to develop their reasoning skills.  Across subjects in the wider curriculum, teachers have reviewed the knowledge and skills that pupils have missed and adapted planning accordingly.  Should pupils not be able to attend school, teachers provide them with printed materials. These reflect the learning taking place in school. If a ‘bubble’ needs to self-isolate, you have plans to deliver learning online, including daily live lessons.

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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 co-chairs of the governing body, the director of education for the Diocese of Chichester the regional schools commissioner and the director of children's services for West Sussex. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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