Ofsted
Ofsted and Our School Improvement Journey
Our commitment to continuous improvement
At Kingsway Primary School, our school improvement journey is driven by what is right for our children and our community. Our work is rooted in our values, vision and inclusive ethos, and underpinned by a strong commitment to ensuring every child feels safe, supported and able to thrive.
As an ambitious and reflective school, we continuously evaluate our practice and work closely with a range of external partners to support quality assurance and development. This includes collaboration with:
- our Local Governing Body and Trust leaders
- school improvement professionals and advisers
- safeguarding, inclusion and wellbeing specialists
Through these partnerships, we ensure that our improvement work is purposeful, evidence‑informed and focused on making a real difference for pupils.
Ofsted is one part of this wider picture of accountability and improvement.
Understanding Ofsted’s new inspection framework
Ofsted has recently introduced a renewed inspection framework, with a clear shift in focus.
What has changed?
- Schools no longer receive a single overall judgement such as “Good” or “Outstanding”.
- Instead, Ofsted uses a report card approach, sharing strengths and areas for development across key aspects of a school’s work.
- There is a much stronger emphasis on inclusion, particularly how well schools support pupils with SEND, those who experience disadvantage, and those who may face barriers to learning.
- Inspectors focus heavily on personal development, wellbeing, curriculum quality and leadership.
This change is designed to give parents a more balanced and meaningful understanding of a school, rather than reducing it to one overall word.
What does “Needs Attention” mean?
You may see the phrase “needs attention” in future inspection outcomes.
We want to be very clear and reassuring:
A “needs attention” judgement is not a cause for alarm.
A helpful way to think about it is:
It is like an advisory note on a car MOT.
It highlights:
- areas where leaders should focus their improvement work
- priorities for development already identified by the school
- next steps on an ongoing journey
It does not mean a school is unsafe, failing or doing poorly overall. In many cases, schools are already actively addressing these areas as part of their normal development planning.
Our most recent Ofsted inspection
Our most recent full Ofsted inspection took place in March 2023
Inspectors recognised many strengths in our school and were clear about the positive relationships, caring ethos and inclusive culture that define Kingsway.
Most importantly, inspection feedback reflected what we already know and value deeply:
that Kingsway is a school where children feel safe, valued and supported, and where staff are committed to helping every pupil succeed.
What Ofsted recognised as strengths at Kingsway
Inspectors highlighted strengths across a number of key areas, including:
- a strong culture of care, respect and inclusion
- positive behaviour and strong relationships between pupils and staff
- effective safeguarding arrangements
- a curriculum designed to support pupils’ learning and development
- a clear focus on pupils’ wellbeing and personal development
- staff commitment to supporting pupils from a wide range of backgrounds
These strengths closely reflect our values and the feedback we receive regularly from pupils, families and the wider community.
Ofsted is only one voice
While external validation is important, what matters most to us is:
- how our children experience school
- how safe, confident and happy they feel
- how well we work in partnership with families
Our school community – pupils, parents, carers and staff – are at the heart of everything we do. We value feedback, conversations and relationships and believe that schools improve best when they work openly and collaboratively with their communities.
Working in partnership with families
If you ever have a question about Ofsted, the inspection process or our school’s improvement work, we encourage you to talk to us.
- Our Headteacher and Senior Leaders are visible at the beginning of each day.
- You are very welcome to contact the school office to arrange a conversation by phone or in person.
- We are always happy to listen and to explain how we make decisions in the best interests of children.
If you are considering Kingsway for your child, we would be delighted to show you around and share why our school community is so special.
Accessing Ofsted reports
You can:
- view our reports on the Ofsted website
- request a paper copy of any inspection report from the school office at any time
We are committed to transparency and openness.
Looking ahead
As with all schools, inspection feedback helps inform our next steps. Where areas for development are identified, they align closely with our own self‑evaluation and School Development Plan.
We see inspection as part of a continuous improvement journey, not a one‑off event, and we are confident in the leadership, staff expertise and community partnerships that support Kingsway’s ongoing development.
A final message to our community
Kingsway Primary School is a place where:
- children are known, valued and cared for
- difference is respected and celebrated
- staff are committed and reflective
- families are welcomed as partners
We are proud of our school, grateful for the trust families place in us, and confident in our continued journey of improvement – always with children at the heart.