Old Park Primary School

Inspection of Old Park Primary School Old Park Road, Wednesbury, West Midlands WS10 9LX

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years provision Outstanding Previous inspection grade Outstanding 21 and 22 May 2024

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What is it like to attend this school?

Old Park is a special place to belong, with pupils being the best advocates for their school. They are courteous, kind and demonstrate extremely positive attitudes to learning. The values that underpin life at this school are understood by all and guide pupils to make the right decisions for the right reasons.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have created a culture of high ambition for all. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are exceptionally well supported. Everybody feels included and there is a shared understanding that ‘we are all unique and, therefore, all different.’ Such differences are celebrated and this helps pupils to understand the principles of mutual respect and tolerance.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils achieve extremely well, with the most vulnerable learners making exceptional progress from their starting points. They do so because of the rich curriculum they experience. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and caring. Pupils really appreciate the way their learning is made interesting and exciting.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The wider development of pupils is exceptional. Pupils learn about the world of work from visitors who come to speak to them about careers that may be available to them in the future. Many aspire to do well at school as they know that in doing so they are more likely to fulfil their ambitions.

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better?

At the heart of this school is a curriculum that is extremely well matched to pupils’ needs. Leaders know their school exceptionally well and, alongside governors, have built a team of staff who are equally committed to doing their best for the pupils they serve. Parents agree that this is a school that really cares about their children and are grateful for the support they receive.

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better?

Staff are trained very well to deliver the curriculum as intended. They make precise adaptations to learning to ensure that all pupils have equal access to it. Many pupils make progress and achieve highly because staff notice when they struggle with their learning. Those that fall behind are well supported to catch up quickly.

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better?

Many pupils express a love of reading. All know that it is important to read widely and often. They enjoy stories that staff and their parents share with them. Those at the early stages of reading, read books that are precisely matched to the sounds that they know. Positive reading habits are celebrated and pupils enjoy receiving rewards or tokens to spend at the book vending machine. This all enables pupils to quickly become confident and fluent readers.

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better?

Children in the early years get off to an exceptional start. They learn to read from the moment they begin school and develop a love of mathematics. Many become fascinated and enjoy learning about the world around them. They are confident when communicating their feelings and ideas, showing a curiosity and a love of 21 and 22 May 2024

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learning. They develop an ability to concentrate for prolonged periods, which helps them to be ready for the next stage of their schooling.

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Pupils with SEND receive high-quality support and care. They learn alongside their peers and, when required, adaptations are made to help them do so. Many are developing their ability to complete their work independently. Those with more profound difficulties have highly effective support plans that help them to overcome barriers to learning. The school works extremely well with specialist services to ensure that there are accurate assessments of pupils’ needs. ‘No stone is left unturned’ to provide an equality of access to all aspects of school life.

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Behaviour is exceptional. Learning is rarely disrupted, with those pupils who experience difficulties with behaviour, well supported to make improvements. Pupils hold doors open for each other and respond to a ‘thank you’ with ‘you’re welcome’ and a smile. If problems arise, pupils feel confident that trusted adults will support them to resolve their worries. The empathy and care pupils are shown by adults, influences the kindness that pupils show one another.

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Most pupils attend school regularly. The school works effectively with parents to support pupils who were previously persistently absent from school to attend more frequently.

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Pupils are provided with outstanding opportunities to develop their interests. Public speaking, singing in the choir, or taking part in the many clubs they are offered, are just a few of the ways that pupils develop their talents. Pupils show exemplary character. They demonstrate resilience to setbacks, enjoy independent learning and seize opportunities to develop their leadership skills. Old Park is a school that prepares its pupils exceptionally well to become life-long learners.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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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. 21 and 22 May 2024

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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). 21 and 22 May 2024

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Date of previous inspection 1 May 2013 under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school does not use alternative provision.

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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.  Inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the 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 that puts pupils’ interests first. 21 and 22 May 2024

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 Inspectors met with a range of leaders, including those responsible for the curriculum, teaching and learning, behaviour, attendance, personal development and safeguarding.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics and geography. For each deep dive, the 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.  The lead inspector also heard a selection of pupils read from Years 1, 2 and 3.  Inspectors also considered the curriculum in other subjects.  The lead inspector spoke with governors, including the chair, vice chair and three other governors.  The lead inspector also spoke to the local authority school improvement advisor and considered evidence form recent improvement reports.  Inspectors considered the survey responses to Ofsted Parent View and the free-

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text comments from parents.  Inspectors considered the responses to staff and pupils’ surveys.

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Inspection team

Tony Bradshaw, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Harjit Chahal Ofsted Inspector 21 and 22 May 2024

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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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