Setting

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

p.1

Caroline Skingsley Headteacher Goldington Green Academy Goldington Green Bedford Bedfordshire MK41 0DP

p.1

Ofsted visit to Goldington Green Academy

Following my visit with Cindy Impey, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 8 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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Goldington Green 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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Goldington Green 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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Goldington Green Academy

During the visit, we spoke to you and the deputy headteacher. 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. In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

p.1

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:

 Since the beginning of term, around one-sixth of pupils have had to learn from home for a few days due to COVID-19. At the time of the visit, a Year 5 class ‘bubble’ had recently returned to school following a period of isolation at home.  Pupils are studying the usual range of subjects. They are learning the full planned content within each subject. In science and design & technology, some practical activities are taking place in the school hall or outside.  At the start of term, teachers checked pupils’ new starting points in reading (including phonics), writing and mathematics.  Leaders identified that pupils in Year 1 and Year 2 had forgotten some of their phonic knowledge. Pupils are having extra phonic sessions to help them catch up. Leaders are pleased that older pupils are enjoying reading more than they did previously.  Teachers are helping pupils in Years 3 to 6 to regain their stamina when

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

writing longer pieces. Teachers are also providing pupils with daily handwriting practice to improve their presentational skills.  In mathematics, you identified that most pupils are on track with their knowledge and understanding. Teachers are providing individual catch-up work for those pupils who have gaps in their learning.  In subjects such as history and geography, teachers are identifying the knowledge and vocabulary that pupils have missed or forgotten. They are helping pupils to learn this alongside the usual planned work in lessons.  Remote learning is in place for pupils who need to learn from home. Teachers use a combination of online resources and activites. Teachers intend for any remote learning to mirror what pupils would be learning in school.

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 Goldington Green Academy trust (a single-academy trust), the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Bedfordshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3