Despite improvements, the primary school is still operating under special measures from inspectors
Willow Park CofE Primary is the last remaining school in Bristol rated “Inadequate” by Ofsted(Image: Google Maps)
There is one school left in Bristol with the lowest Ofsted rating. Willow Park Church of England Primary School, just off St Michael’s Hill, in the city centre, received the “Inadequate” rating in an inspection carried out by the education watchdog in March 2024.
In a follow up inspection in January this year, inspectors praised interim headteacher Ruth Laing for making improvements but said more work needed to be done for the school to be removed from special measures provisions triggered by the earlier report.
“Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the school to no longer be judged as requiring special measures,” the report said.
“Since your arrival, the pace of change in the school has increased. You have re-established the school’s vision. This has refocused staff, pupils and governors on the school’s core aims. There is a sense of shared purpose to improve the school’s quality of education.”
In the March 2024 report, the school, which then had 117 pupils enrolled, was criticised for having a poorly-designed curriculum which left students with significant gaps in their knowledge.
There are four possible ratings a school can receive from Ofsted: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate.
Schools used to receive an overall ranking, but as of September 2024 receive a separate rating across four main areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
Where appropriate, early years provision and sixth-form provisions are also assessed.
In July 2024, Bristol Live reported on five schools which had received an “Inadequate” overall rating from the government department responsible for school inspections.
One school, Hartcliffe Nursery School and Children’s Centre, went on to receive a much-improved “Good” rating across four categories when inspectors returned on October 1 2024.
The report was full of praise for headteacher Cate Peel for turning the school’s fortunes around.
“The interim headteacher has been the driving force behind the school’s rapid improvement,” the report said. “Along with dedicated senior leaders, they lead with a moral purpose for the benefit of children.”
“Much thought has gone into shaping the curriculum. It now clarifies the knowledge and skills that children need to acquire at different stages.”
A further three of the schools have been taken on by new trusts. When a school is taken on by a new parent organisation, it is deemed “closed” from the perspective of Ofsted and a new inspection is scheduled.
Montpellier High School and Merchants’ Academy, two of the institutions to have held Ofsted’s bottom rating in early 2024, have since been taken on by E-Act, which governs 38 academies across England. Another, Rangeworthy Church of England Primary School, was taken on by the Severn Federation Academy Trust in September 2024.
Willow Park CofE Primary was contacted for comment.