Northgate Primary School was inspected by Ofsted on the 28th and 29th November 2023.
Please see the full repoirt via the Oftsed wesbite or in the attached below.
Northgate continues to be a good school, as judged by Ofsted. The school are really pleased with the overall outcome of good with outstanding aspects, particularly the recognition of school’s exceptional work in developing children’s behaviour and supporting their personal development.
The report highlights many strengths and positives of which we are extremely proud, including:
- Pupils have a thirst for learning.
- The school’s curriculum is ambitious for all pupils.
- The school’s sharp focus on language development starts in the early years.
- Reading is prioritised.
- Most pupils grow into articulate, well rounded individuals by the time they leave.
- Pupils have extremely positive attitudes to school life. There is a strong culture of respect throughout the school.
- Pupils have a mature understanding of issues around diversity.
- The school is determined to enable pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to succeed.
- Leaders have high expectations and are tenacious in their drive for school improvement.
- The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
It was a rigorous process with the inspectors evaluating seven subjects on the school curriculum. Whilst not included within the report, the school received the following comments:
- Northgate’s curriculum is carefully thought out with clear end points.
- The teaching of core subjects and all other subjects, not on the current school development plan, was strong.
- The early years learning environment was effective for all areas of learning.
- The phonics teaching was strong.
- Adults have high expectations for behaviour.
- There is a breadth of opportunity beyond the curriculum for pupils including extra-curricular opportunities and themed weeks.
- Deliberate choices for cultural capital, (the essential knowledge that children need to be educated citizens) which are clearly mapped out, develop all children.
- Amongst staff, there is a strong culture on reflection and improvement.
- There is a consistent drive for school improvement among leaders.
The change in grading from the 2008 inspection does not reflect a decline in standards but the changes in expectations of Ofsted inspections since 2008, where the main focus was on English and maths and now is the whole curriculum.
In conclusion, as leaders we wish to maintain our unwavering commitment to the highest quality of education, care and opportunity for every child at Northgate. I wish to thank all parents and carers for supporting our work because without that positive partnership, the children would not flourish as they do. Finally, I would like to finish by saying how incredibly proud we are of all our children and staff and that, as a team, we will continue to be resolute about placing our pupils at the core of everything we do.