Barwick and Stoford Primary School Faces Urgent Improvement Order
Ofsted inspectors found that pupils at the small Somerset school have not learned well for too long, prompting a formal special measures status.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
A primary school in Somerset has been placed under special measures following a negative inspection report.
Barwick and Stoford Community School received the designation after inspectors determined that the institution requires urgent improvement. The school is located near Yeovil and serves a small student body. During the March inspection, only 65 pupils were on the register. The report was published at the end of September. Inspectors noted that for too long, pupils have not learned well at this school. They stated that leaders failed to tackle significant weaknesses over time. Consequently, too many pupils leave the school without the essential knowledge needed for secondary school.
Writing skills represent a major area of concern for the inspectors. The report states that very few pupils in the last two years have achieved the expected standard at the end of key stage 2. Inspectors attributed this lack of progress to a lack of rigour in the curriculum. They found that pupils particularly struggle to write fluently and accurately. As a result, outcomes in writing are below national averages. The early years provision also suffered from a sharp decline in quality. Inspectors cited a lack of oversight and expertise in this area. They noted that many staff lack knowledge of child development. Staff interactions with children were described as not carefully considered. This led to weak learning outcomes for the youngest students.
The school received mixed ratings across different categories. It was found to need urgent improvement in achievement, leadership and governance, and early years provision. The categories of inclusion and curriculum and teaching were judged to need attention. Only two categories met the expected standard: attendance and behaviour, and personal development and wellbeing. Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities was described as inconsistent. While staff understand systems for identification, they do not routinely provide necessary adaptations. The pace of change since the previous inspection in 2023 was rated as too slow. The school was previously rated as requiring improvement.
The school serves a demographic with specific needs. A well above average percentage of 44.6 percent of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Additionally, 18.46 percent of students have support for special needs. Inspectors noted that the school uses additional funding for disadvantaged pupils effectively. These students participate in a variety of school trips. The quality of teaching across the school is variable. Leaders have identified weaknesses and sought to address them through staff training. This work is in an early stage, but evidence of positive impact exists. Teachers' expectations of what pupils can learn have started to increase.
Some aspects of the school received praise from inspectors. Pupil attendance is broadly in line with national averages. Leaders use effective systems to track attendance and intervene quickly when rates decline. The school's welcoming culture allows leaders to work closely with families to remove barriers. Pupils were observed to behave well and show enthusiasm for learning. Bullying was found to be rare and is dealt with promptly by staff. The school also performs well in ensuring pupil wellbeing. Children participate in gardening, art, and sewing clubs. They also engage in sports clubs, including girls' football. The school organizes a Christmas nativity play to foster an appreciation for the arts.
A spokesperson for Barwick and Stoford Community Primary School responded to the findings. The spokesperson noted that the inspection was conducted under Ofsted's new framework. Inspectors recognized many important strengths, including a welcoming and safe culture. The spokesperson stated that the report took six and a half months to be published. They said that weaknesses were already being tackled during that period. Since the inspection, the school reported some of the best Year 6 SATS results it has ever achieved. These results are among the highest in Somerset. The school leadership remains confident that with the right support in place, the school will emerge stronger than before.
