As a new school year approaches, it's worth taking note of which Sheffield schools are still on an improvement journey and have the chance to use the new term as a fresh start.
There are currently 16 primary or secondary schools in the Steel City rated as 'requires improvement' by the education watchdog, according to its website.
In many cases, the inspection reports are not without compliments, such as how pupils at Birley Spa Primary Academy are "polite and respectful", how the children at Eckington Junior School were "happy, police and enthusiastic".
Some should be seen as good news as well. Clifford All Saints CofE was rated 'requires improvement' in all areas but was highly positive about the direction it was headed, particularly after the severely critical monitoring visit the previous year.
But, often, the overall grade was brought down by some crucial weakness or gaps in how children are taught, such as slip-ups in the 'quality of education' at Gleadless Primary School.
However, in several cases, some of these Sheffield schools have been waiting up to four years for Ofsted to come back to they can prove themselves. Birley Spa Primary has not had a routine monitoring visit since it was rated in November 2019, even when guidance is that inspectors should check in in less than two years.
Let's hope there are better days ahead for these schools heading into the 2023/2024 academic year.
1. Birley Spa Primary Academy
Birley Spa Primary Academy, in Hackenthorpe, was rated Requires Improvement in its first inspection report published in November 2019, nearly four years ago. Inspectors felt pupils were "polite and respectful" but deem that their knowledge was lacking as they were not "taught the right things at the right time". It is now well overdue a monitoring visit. - https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/143965 Photo: Google
2. Rainbow Forge Primary Academy
Following its conversion to an academy in 2017, Rainbow Forge Primary Academy was rated Requires Improvement in its first revisit in January 2020. It also has not received a monitoring visit since, when it should typically have received one within a year. Inspectors said pupils were "enthusiastic" and the report was quite positive, but reading ability and knowledge was lacking. - https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50145295 Photo: Alastair Ulke
3. Eckington Junior School
Eckington Junior School was rated Requires Improvement in an inspection report in March 2020, and also has not have a monitoring visit since. The report was positive in places, saying pupils were "happy, polite and enthusiastic". However, they felt they did not "receive a good standard of education". - https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50148057
4. Emmaus Catholic and CofE Primary School
Emmaus Catholic and CofE Primary School was rated as 'requires improvement' by Ofsted at its inspection in September 2019. At a monitoring visit in 2021, inspectors felt effective action was being taken to improve their grade. - https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50166611 Photo: Google