Setting

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

p.1

Kate Benton Principal Jubilee Academy Mossley Tintern Cresecent Bloxwich Walsall West Midlands WS3 2SQ

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Jubilee Academy Mossley

Following my remote visit with Martin Pye, 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.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Jubilee Academy Mossley

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.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Jubilee Academy Mossley

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 remote visit to Jubilee Academy Mossley

During the visit, we spoke to you, the executive principal, the senior leadership team and some other staff. We did not speak to pupils.

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 pandemic.

p.2

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:

 At the time of the visit, no ‘bubbles’ of pupils were self-isolating. Of all pupils, 80% have had to learn remotely at some point this term.  Leaders plan to return to the school’s usual curriculum by summer 2021. Currently, all the usual subjects are being taught but with some adjustments. For example, swimming is not taking place. The school has introduced yoga this term as part of its work to support pupils’ well-being.  This term, teachers have been making checks in lessons to identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge. You told us that staff are focusing on pupils’ comprehension and fluency in reading. Staff are focusing on spelling, punctuation and handwriting in writing.  You explained that in mathematics, pupils have retained a lot of knowledge about number but have difficulty applying this. In response, staff are providing more opportunities for pupils to practise this.  School visits and clubs are currently halted. You are providing enrichment

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

activities within the school day.  Staff are providing a mix of paper-based and digital learning to support pupils who may need to learn remotely. Wherever possible, learning is in line with the work pupils would normally be taught in class. There is little difference between the work that is provided for individuals and bubbles.

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 governing body, the chair of the board of trustees and the chief executive officer of the academy transformation trust, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Walsall. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3