• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
23 May, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Brighton

Popular school told it requires improvement by Ofsted

by Jo Wadsworth
Monday 4 Dec, 2017 at 2:12PM
A A
0
Popular school told it requires improvement by Ofsted

An oversubscribed Brighton school has been told it requires improvement in how it teaches disadvantaged and gifted children.

Balfour Primary School, which in 2012 was rated good, was praised for many aspects of school life – but fell down when assessed on outcomes for pupils.

Among other criticisms, inspectors said that improvement had been too focused on keeping up with curriculum changes rather than how they will affect pupil’s progress in the past.

While disadvantaged children make up a small percentage of each class, the size of the four-form entry school means that together they form a significant number.

Inspectors said the school’s pupil premium strategy had not met their needs, and they make slower progress than their peers, particularly in writing. The report recommended an external review of the school’s use of the pupil premium should be undertaken.

But it also said that a reinvigorated board of governors and senior team at the school means it is on track to make the necessary improvements.

The report, written by an Ofsted team headed by lead inspector Lee Selby, said: “The senior leadership team has been strengthened by the appointment of two assistant headteachers who each take responsibility for a key stage. They work very well with the deputy headteachers and, together, these senior leaders are an impressive force for improvement.

“Already, the new leadership team has led substantial improvements in teaching and sustained the strengths that already existed in early years. As a team, leaders’ actions are beginning to have an impact on improving pupils’ outcomes, but some variations in performance still remain.

“The new chair of governors [Rachel Cashman] has, in a short space of time, reviewed the performance of the governing body, gained the trust and respect of school leaders and identified key priorities for improvement.

“Under her highly skilled leadership, the governing body is having a far greater impact. Given her extensive experience and skills outside of education, the chair of governors is determined and confident that standards and outcomes will improve quickly. She has sought and received expert guidance to quickly develop her understanding of education.”

It added: Balfour Primary School is a place where pupils can be themselves and are respected as individuals. Pupils enjoy coming to school, they attend regularly and play together well. Behaviour is good.

“The school is never dull; there is always something going on. As one parent explained: ‘There is a palpable sense of community and genuine excitement around events and initiatives.'”

Headteacher Marcelo Staricoff and chair of governors Rachel Cashman wrote to parents, saying: “Although as a whole, standards are at or above national for pupils across the school, the inspectors felt that children within the disadvantaged, SEND and more able groups were not making enough progress, especially in writing, when compared to their peers.

“The inspectors did recognise that current disadvantaged pupils are not falling further behind, but neither are they catching up with their peers or with other pupils nationally in writing and maths.

“This outcome is very disappointing for all of us as a community. Our services are only as good as those delivered for the most in need and it is clear from the results of this Ofsted inspection that in the last five years we could and should have done more to ensure the potential of every disadvantaged child, every child with special educational needs or disability and each of our most able pupils was optimally supported.

“Despite this final judgement, we are pleased that the inspectors recognised the fact that we are an improving school and as a result graded the school as good in all other areas.

“We have every confidence that together we can work towards rapidly addressing the issues that have been identified, as we continue to strive to provide the very best possible education for all our children.”

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

New mayor of Brighton and Hove takes over

Brighton man jailed for raping and strangling a teenager and witness intimidation

With doctors’ surgery in limbo, poorest now face public health cuts too

Fire breaks out in chip shop

Tornado possible, warns Met Office, amid thunder and rain

Council looks at ways to license and regulate Airbnbs

Opposition councillors surprised to learn that Cityclean was renamed last month

Popular school told it requires improvement by Ofsted

Marina dredging could damage wildlife, MP warns

Police prepare for anti-government march in Brighton tomorrow

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
ROOM-i-Nation Review

ROOM-i-Nation Review

23 May 2025
Boys From the Blackstuff play

Boys From the Blackstuff play

23 May 2025
The Great Escape (Part 2 – Thursday 15th May)

The Great Escape (Part 2 – Thursday 15th May)

23 May 2025
The Great Escape (Part 1 – Wednesday 14th May)

The Great Escape (Part 1 – Wednesday 14th May)

22 May 2025
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Manager of Brighton and Hove Albion’s women team dismissed after allegations

Brighton and Hove Albion battle back from behind to beat Liverpool

by Frank le Duc
19 May 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion 3 Liverpool 2 Liverpool went in front twice but Brighton battled back, equalising twice, before Jack...

Match Day 37 – Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool

Match Day 37 – Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool

by Frank le Duc
19 May 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion host the Premier League champions Liverpool at the Amex this evening (Monday 19 May), with kick-off...

Hürzeler says Brighton and Hove Albion may need to ‘win ugly’

Hürzeler praises Brighton and Hove Albion’s talented youngsters

by PA sport staff
18 May 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion boss Fabian Hürzeler said that the club’s young talent will be all the stronger for having...

Sussex struggle to make it to day three against Nottinghamshire

Simpson unable to save Sussex from defeat by Somerset in three days at Taunton

by Richard Latham - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
18 May 2025
0

Sussex 152 (46.2 overs) and 335 (97.2 overs) Somerset 338 (105.1 overs) and 150-5 (39.2 overs) Somerset beat Sussex by...

Load More
December 2017
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Nov   Jan »

RSS From Sussex News

  • Road racing will get worse now new bypass is open, warns councillor 22 May 2025
  • This is not just shoplifting, this is M&S shoplifting 22 May 2025
  • Lightning sets house on fire this afternoon 21 May 2025
  • Detectives hunt suspected sex attacker 21 May 2025
  • Police investigate woman for false rape claim 20 May 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News