A Chesterfield school that was told it requires improvement following a government inspection says that there is a lot to be proud about as it approaches the end of the first half term.
Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy, in Dunston Lane, Newbold, was marked as ‘good’ in three of the five categories that make up an Ofsted report, in June. It was the school’s first inspection since joining the Cavendish Learning Trust, which also oversees Barrow Hill Primary Academy, Whittington Moor Nursery & Infant Academy and Netherthorpe School.
They were praised for being ‘a happy and caring place’ where ‘staff want the best for all pupils’ but inspectors deemed the school’s Early Years provision and quality of education as ‘requires improvement’, saying that ‘weaknesses are hindering pupils’ progress.
Head of Academy Fiona O’Hara, who joined Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy earlier this year, says that, as per the Ofsted report, the ‘ambitious’ senior leadership team is working hard to address these areas.
“We identified the school as ‘requiring improvement’ before the Ofsted inspectors visited school last academic year,” said Mrs O’Hara, “and we have been working hard to improve our Early Years provision.
“We have upskilled our middle leaders and appointed new leads in phonics, English, Maths and the new curriculum lead.
“There is a strong structure in place to move forwards and we’re well on our way to improving Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy.”
Mrs O’Hara says that the main targets of the school include a focus on writing, maths and the curriculum.
She said: “The school has ambitious school improvement targets, which include creating a bespoke approach to writing, working with the local maths hub for maths and redeveloping the curriculum offer to improve outcomes for all the children from nursery to Year 6.”
Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy is also aiming to meet the national average when it comes to SATs, and further developing the Forest School programme. Mrs O’Hara is also keen for the school to extend its links with the community and is looking forward to welcoming a teacher from Ukraine, who will work across the Trust assisting with the children welcomed into its schools after fleeing the war-torn country.
“There are 200 families from Ukraine who are currently living in Chesterfield,” said Mrs O’Hara, “and we want them to feel welcome, should they join one of our schools.
“We’re a diverse, inclusive school – there are almost 300 children on roll – and we’re super proud of our eight-pupil Enhanced Resource Unit, too, which caters for children with physical impairment via the local authority.
“Led by Jenny Davies, this unit received high praise from Ofsted who deemed it ‘excellent’. Staff know the needs of each child and build on their independence, so that they can work alongside their peers.
“Every child is given the opportunity to take part in extracurricular activities such as netball, football and tag rugby – we’ve worked alongside the local School Sports Partnership to offer these activities – and our year three and four pupils are currently learning how to play a brass instrument.
“Forest School is a year-long programme that, eventually, all children will be able to access. Countless studies have shown the benefits of learning outdoors and we are currently developing an area at school that houses beautiful plum trees and a pond.
“We’re training members of staff to be Forest School leads and although, at the moment, only a select few children take part in Forest School, it will become something that the whole school can enjoy and that we can expand on, once our staff have completed their training.”
Schools who require improvement are visited by Ofsted in the 30 months following their last inspection, or at any time if concerns are raised. They may also do a monitoring visit and Mrs O’Hara is confident that inspectors will be impressed.
“We are actually very proud of our inspection report,” she said, “and the comments were, overall, pleasing.
“We know the areas in which we need to improve and will continue to be the school that, like it says in the report, ‘is a place where pupils can learn and grow up well’.
“There is so much to look forward to over the next few months; we’re part of the national Young Voices competition, which will take place at Sheffield Arena in February, and our pupil parliament and pop-up shop – where pupils can spend the ‘Proud Pounds’ earned for good behaviour – continues to thrive.
“It’s an exciting time to be a part of Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy.”
