Gallions Primary School

Inspection of a good school: Gallions Primary School Warwall, Beckton, London E6 6WG

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Outcome

Gallions Primary School continues to be a good school. There is enough evidence of improved performance to suggest that the school could be judged outstanding if we were to carry out a section 5 inspection now. The school's next inspection will be a section 5 inspection.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at Gallions are happy, enjoy school and are always smiling. Their behaviour in lessons and around the school is exemplary. Classrooms are calm and purposeful. At social times and in corridors, pupils are considerate of one another. They need very few reminders to follow staff’s expectations for behaviour.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff offer pupils lots of encouragement and want them to achieve their best. They have high expectations for pupils. Across the curriculum, pupils build up a wealth of knowledge. Staff help pupils to recall and apply what they have been taught with confidence.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils said that bullying is rare. If they have any issues, they know it is important to report them to an adult. Incidents, while rare, are sorted out quickly. Pupils feel safe at school and know how to keep themselves safe in different situations, including online.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils get a wide variety of carefully planned opportunities outside the academic curriculum. Before, during and after school they can attend an exciting range of clubs. The curriculum is also enriched through providing opportunities for pupils to apply and extend their learning, including in real-life situations. For example, pupils attend a poetry retreat and take part in debating competitions.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils achieve highly at this school. This is because leaders have given a great deal of thought to the curriculum and what pupils need to learn and remember. Expectations for each subject, from the early years up, are ambitious and securely embedded. Pupils’ learning has been carefully sequenced so that they are able to succeed. Lessons build on what pupils already know and prepare them for what they are going to learn next. 13 and 14 July 2022

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Pupils become immersed in what they are learning. They talk about their knowledge in detail and with great enthusiasm. Teachers’ strong knowledge of the curriculum enables them to expertly identify and respond to gaps in pupils’ understanding. As one pupil put it: ‘Teachers make sure we never finish a lesson not understanding what has been taught’.

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Reading is an absolute priority. Leaders are experts in early reading. They lead by example and make sure that staff are well trained and confident in delivering the phonics programme. Any pupil falling behind receives targeted support to help them catch up and keep up. By the end of Year 2, all become fluent and accurate readers. Regular reading, both for practice and pleasure, is a strong feature of the early reading curriculum. Pupils clearly take great delight in reading and listening to stories.

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The curriculum is designed to make sure that no pupil falls behind in their learning. Teachers check pupils’ knowledge purposefully. In mathematics, for instance, before pupils move on to more complex work, teachers check that they have mastered what they are currently learning.

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From the Nursery class through to Year 6, teachers have considerable subject expertise. They know how to help pupils to get better at a subject and plan carefully to deepen pupils’ understanding in different contexts. In physical education (PE), for example, pupils take part in weekly tournaments to practise the skills and techniques they have been taught. In geography, teachers set demanding and engaging tasks that enable pupils to revisit and bring together key ideas in the subject, for instance about air pollution.

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Pupils at Gallions get a wide variety of opportunities and experiences. Learning, experiencing and performing music plays a key role in school life. Alongside the taught music curriculum, every pupil learns a string instrument from Year 2 onwards. Termly music concerts are a source of pride for both pupils and staff.

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Pupils learn what it means to treat everyone fairly and respectfully. They understand that not everyone has the same values and beliefs as them, and that this is okay. Pupils said that being unkind to someone, for example, due to their race, gender or religion, is unacceptable. School council members are proud of the work they have done to write the equality policy for pupils.

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Expectations of pupils with SEND are high. Pupils’ individual needs, including those in the resourced provision, are considered carefully in leaders’ plans for the curriculum. For instance, those pupils who attend the resourced provision learn important life skills, alongside other curriculum subjects. In classrooms, pupils with SEND are supported to successfully access the learning through individual or group support and the use of specific resources. 13 and 14 July 2022

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Pupils said they feel safe at school. They know that a member of staff is always available to help them with any worries or concerns. Pupils trust that adults will always deal with any issues.

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Safeguarding

Leaders ensure staff and governors receive regular and thorough safeguarding training. Effective systems are in place for concerns to be reported. Adults are expected to report any concern they have, no matter how small. Leaders’ recruitment procedures are thorough.

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Safeguarding

Leaders work with other agencies to get the right support for families. If necessary, leaders will escalate concerns to the relevant authority to make sure families get appropriate and timely help.

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Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good. This is called a section 8 inspection of a good or outstanding school, because it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a section 5 inspection. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the section 8 inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the section 8 inspection as a section 5 inspection immediately.

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Background

This is the second section 8 inspection since we judged the predecessor school, Gallions Primary School, to be good in October 2011.

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How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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How can I feed back my views?

If you are the school and you are not happy with the inspection or the report, you can complain to Ofsted . 13 and 14 July 2022

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, 'disadvantaged pupils' refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 13 and 14 July 2022

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School details

Inspection number 10213877 Type of school Primary

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School details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this school

 Gallions Primary School converted to become an academy school in April 2018. When its predecessor school, Gallions Primary School, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be good overall. The school is part of the New Vision Trust.  Since the last inspection, there is a new headteacher in post.  The school has a specially resourced provision for pupils with autism spectrum disorder. There are 15 pupils, all of whom have an education, health and care plan.  Leaders do not use alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and has taken this into account in the evaluation of the school.  The inspector held meetings with the headteacher, senior leaders, subject leaders and class teachers. The inspector met with four members of the governing body, including the chair of governors and the chief executive officer of the multi-academy trust. 13 and 14 July 2022

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 The inspector did deep dives in three subjects: early reading, geography and mathematics. The inspector met with subject leaders, visited lessons, looked at pupils’ work and listened to pupils read. Meetings with pupils and teachers were held to gather their views. Other subjects, such as science, PE, music and design and technology, were also considered as part of this inspection  During the inspection, the inspector scrutinised a wide range of documents, including those related to safeguarding, pupils’ wider development and behaviour. The views of parents and staff were also considered, including through Ofsted’s surveys.  The inspector considered the effectiveness of safeguarding through discussions with leaders, teachers and support staff. They looked at records relating to safeguarding, including pre-employment checks on staff.

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Inspection team

Julie Wright, lead inspector Her Majesty's Inspector 13 and 14 July 2022

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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