Ascot Heath Primary School

Inspection of Ascot Heath Primary School Rhododendron Walk, New Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 8PN

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years provision Good Previous inspection grade Outstanding

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Overall effectiveness Good

This school was last inspected under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 12 years ago and judged ‘Outstanding’ under a previous inspection framework. This reflected the school’s overall effectiveness under the inspection framework in use at the time.

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Overall effectiveness Good

From then until November 2020, the school was exempted by law from routine inspection, so there has been a longer gap than usual between graded inspections under section 5 of the Act. 5 and 6 December 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school’s ambition of ‘preparing our children for all of their tomorrows’ features prominently. Everyone feels welcome, regardless of their differences. This helps all pupils feel happy and safe. The school is ambitious for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils rise to these expectations and achieve well.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils value the opportunities to develop their talents in clubs such as drama, well- being and judo. Everyone can represent the school in a sporting activity and pupils love the range of activities they can participate in at breaktime. Many enjoy using the climbing equipment. Younger children take part in outdoor activities to help them learn about the natural world. Some pupils relish the chance to grow vegetables in the school garden.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The house system, named after famous horses, brings the school together. Everyone loves taking part in house competitions such as the recent art event. Pupils are thoughtful and kind to each other. They told inspectors that the ‘friendship meeting point’ on the playground is a safe place for anyone to go to if they have no one to play with. Pupils said it rarely gets used, but if it does then friends rush there to support their peers.

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better?

Starting in the early years, the curriculum is ambitious for all pupils, including those with SEND. Staff have the right expertise. In most subjects, the knowledge and skills that pupils learn builds progressively from the early years to Year 6. However, in a small number of subjects the curriculum does not precisely identify the knowledge and skills that pupils need to learn. In these subjects, the curriculum is not delivered as effectively as it is in others.

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better?

Expert staff identify the additional needs of pupils with SEND swiftly and accurately. This means that throughout the school, staff know pupils’ different needs in detail. Teachers use their expertise to make careful adaptations to their teaching to support these pupils to learn well.

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better?

No time is wasted in the early years. Children are highly engaged in their learning. They learn to share and take turns in a collaborative way. Carefully designed activities help children develop language and communication skills. Staff use stories and nursery rhymes to support this skilfully.

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better?

The school’s mantra of ‘by learning to read you can read to learn’ is evident in the high priority placed on teaching early reading. Children begin to learn to read from the minute they join. The school has ensured that staff teach phonics effectively. Books are closely matched to the sounds that children are learning. Staff check pupils’ learning regularly and, if needed, help them catch up quickly. Inviting book corners and a vibrant library encourage pupils to read widely. Pupils take great pride 5 and 6 December 2023

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in keeping these spaces tidy and well organised. This shows how much they value reading.

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In most subjects, teachers’ checks of pupils’ learning provide useful feedback. Teachers use this information to identify and address pupils’ misconceptions and adapt their future teaching. The school has more work to do to ensure this is the case in all subjects.

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The provision for pupils’ wider development is a strength. Pupils embrace the school’s values of hope, courage and respect. The personal, social and health education curriculum is carefully designed to build pupils’ knowledge in an age- appropriate way from the early years to Year 6. Pupils learn how to develop healthy relationships, including online. They understand that they live in a diverse society and embrace each other’s different beliefs and values. Pupils display positive attitudes to learning and behave very well in lessons and in between. Younger pupils learn to work in teams and participate in class and year group competitions. Older pupils enjoy opportunities for leadership, including as house captains and as part of the school council. They value the skills that they develop in carrying out their responsibilities and feel that they make a positive contribution to improving their school.

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There have been a number of challenges and changes since the amalgamation of the infant and junior school, not least the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the school has remained positive and focused on providing a good experience for pupils. Governors understand their statutory duties and they fulfil their responsibilities effectively. They routinely challenge and hold the leadership team to account for the quality of education that pupils receive. Staff are very positive about the support that they receive from leaders. Many embrace the opportunity to receive specialist training to improve their knowledge to support pupils more effectively.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 Sometimes, teachers do not check pupils’ understanding of the curriculum accurately enough. Feedback given to pupils does not always focus precisely enough on what they need to do to improve. The school must ensure that teachers’ checks on pupils’ learning inform future teaching so that gaps in pupils’ learning are addressed effectively.  In a small number of subjects, the curriculum design does not support pupils to learn and remember key knowledge and skills. This means that sometimes pupils cannot integrate new knowledge into larger ideas. The school needs to continue 5 and 6 December 2023

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to develop the curriculum sequence to ensure that pupils embed the important knowledge and skills that they need to be successful at each stage of their learning.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to 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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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 5 and 6 December 2023

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Chair of governing body Stephanie Eyers (Co-Chair) John Griffin (Co-Chair) Headteacher Rachel Bradley

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School details

Date of previous inspection 10 and 11 May 2011, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 In September 2019, the Ascot Heath Infant School and Ascot Heath Church of England Junior School amalgamated to become Ascot Heath Primary School.  The primary school kept the same unique reference number as the infant school.  The current co-chairs of governors have been in post for a year.  The school uses one unregistered alternative provider.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school. 5 and 6 December 2023

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 Inspectors held meetings with senior leaders of the school, members of staff and pupils. The lead inspector held a meeting with a representative of the local authority.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics, science, history, and physical education. For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  Inspectors also considered the curriculum, looked at samples of pupils’ work and spoke to pupils about their learning in English and geography.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding and puts pupils’ interest first.

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 Inspectors considered a range of documentation provided by the school. This included the school’s self-evaluation, published information about pupils’ performance and minutes of governor’s meetings.  Inspectors spoke to a wide range of pupils and observed their behaviour in lessons and at social times.  Inspectors considered responses to Ofsted Parent View questionnaire, including free-text responses. They also took account of the responses to the staff and pupil surveys and gathered the views of parents, staff and pupils throughout the inspection.

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Inspection team

Linda Culling, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Gemma Piper Ofsted Inspector 5 and 6 December 2023

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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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