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Broke Hall Community Primary School in Rushmere St Andrew, outside Ipswich, praised after good rating by Ofsted




A primary school on the outskirts of Ipswich which pupils enjoy attending teaches children to ‘ready, respectful and safe’, an education watchdog has said.

Broke Hall Community Primary School in Chatsworth Drive, Rushmere St Andrew, has been awarded a good rating after a June visit by Ofsted – its first since becoming an academy in 2019.

The watchdog said students at the school, which is part of Children’s Endeavour Trust, are kind and polite, and trust adults to help them if they are worried about something.

Broke Hall Community School has been praised by Ofsted. Picture: Google
Broke Hall Community School has been praised by Ofsted. Picture: Google

Lead inspector Heather Hann praised leaders for their ambitious and well-planned curriculum for year 1 through year 6.

However, she said, early years education was not so well planned out, which meant some nursery students were not prepared for all aspects of year 1.

Ms Hann said: “In most subjects, such as mathematics, teachers regularly check carefully what pupils know and can do.

“Teachers use these checks to help plan future learning. In some other subjects, teachers check what pupils know at the beginning and end of a topic.

“These checks are not always effective in identifying whether pupils have remembered the important knowledge that leaders intended.

“Leaders are not using this information to check that the curriculum is being taught as they intend. Consequently, pupils do not achieve as well in these subjects.”

Inspectors also praised teachers’ strong subject knowledge, which means they can support all pupils, including those with special education needs or disabilities (SEND).

In addition, the school ensured all staff had proper safeguarding training and issues were identified quickly.

All proper checks are conducted before a new member of staff is taken on, Ms Hann said.

However, one area for improvement was assessment not being used effectively across all foundation subjects.

Ms Hann added: “Leaders should ensure that assessment in all foundation subjects enables subject leaders to evaluate how well the planned curriculum is being taught and that teachers use it to identify any gaps in pupils’ learning and inform their planning.

“This should be done in a way that does not add to teachers’ workload.”

Broke Hall’s last inspection was June 2014, before its conversion into an academy.

It was also awarded a good rating during this inspection, after being rated as requires improvement in November 2012.

Broke Hall and Children’s Endeavour Trust have been approached for comment.