City school a nurturing environment – Ofsted

It was also the first inspection since the Covid pandemic, the effects of which Ofsted said were taken into account.

Perry Hall became an academy 12 years ago and is now part of the Perry Hall Multi-Academy Trust. It currently has more than 500 boys and girls aged 2-11.

Inspectors described Perry Hall as a “happy and welcoming school” and praised its “supportive atmosphere” and “calm environment”, which they said allowed pupils to perform well in a range of subjects.

“Staff in school work together to develop a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum for all pupils,” said the report published by Ofsted last week. “Teachers implement the curriculum effectively and pupils are able to recall prior learning.”

However, inspectors found teachers did not always address mistakes made by pupils, meaning they can become embedded and pupils are left with gaps in their knowledge.

“The school should ensure that all staff have the knowledge and skills they need to address misconceptions and gaps in pupils’ learning in a timely and effective way,” added the report.

Provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) was praised as allowing children to be individually supported and to progress through the curriculum.

Perry Hall’s “highly effective” early years provision, particularly regarding reading, was said to be a positive force in children’s learning and development, and pupils were seen to treat each other with kindness.

“This provides children with an exceptionally strong foundation to behave positively and collaborate together,” said inspectors. “As a result, children are very well prepared for the next stage of their education.”

“They are well-prepared for their future lives”, they concluded.