HMIe report – Knowepark Primary School
Tuesday, June 10 2008
Knowepark Primary School and nursery class were inspected in March 2008 as part of a national sample of primary and nursery education.
The inspection covered key aspects of the school at all stages. It evaluated nursery children’s and pupils’ achievements, the effectiveness of the school, the environment for learning, the school’s processes for self-evaluation and innovation and its capacity for improvement. There was a particular focus on attainment in English language and mathematics.
HM Inspectors identified the following key strengths:
- Polite, friendly pupils and the influence they had on decision making in the school
- Commitment of staff to the care and welfare of nursery children and school pupils
- The pupils’ involvement in enterprise activities in school and in the wider community
- Productive relationships between staff and parents in the nursery.
The inspection team found positive relationships had been established with parents and local schools in the learning community. The school provided a caring environment for pupils and strong community links were well used to widen pupils’ experiences. The report also highlighted that pupils were given appropriate responsibilities to promote healthy lifestyles.
Additionally, pupils were given good opportunities to develop their wider achievements. Teaching staff worked well together and were committed to pupils. The very active pupil council had taken forward a number of initiatives to benefit the whole school.
The report also highlighted the dedication of the recently retired headteacher, who had developed and maintained a supportive and welcoming ethos. She had promoted school improvement through encouraging and supporting staff to introduce new developments. The headteacher was effectively supported by her management team.
Newly appointed headteacher Cathy Mady is pleased that the report reflects the pupils’ enthusiasm and the commitment of caring staff. She said: “It is particularly reassuring that the inspection team reported on the school’s success in involving parents, carers and families.”
Both the school and local authority are looking forward to working in partnership to address the main points for action outlined in the report in order to secure improvement in:
- The quality of the curriculum to ensure greater progression in pupils’ learning
- Pupils’ attainment
- Learning experiences for all pupils
- Meeting needs of all pupils
- Making more effective use of self-evaluation to enable staff at all levels to collaborate effectively in school improvement.
The school and the education authority have to prepare an action plan indicating how they will address the main findings of the report and to share that plan with parents. HM Inspectors will engage with the school and the education authority to monitor progress, and will undertake a follow-through inspection.
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