Ofsted: Crawford Primary School "improved considerably"

Ofsted inspectors said Crawford Primary School in Camberwell was now performing "satisfactorily" and had made "significant improvements" in recent months.

Special measures were put in place in October 2009 as the school had not met the national minimum standards in English and maths.

Following its latest inspection last month, Ofsted said the school had now "improved considerably."

Pupils were becoming increasingly confident in maths, using and applying their developing knowledge of multiplication tables and calculation skills to solve problems, they said.

Ofsted also observed a growing reading culture in the school which supported significant and sustained progress. The younger pupils enjoyed sharing books together and the older ones were able to discuss and recommend their favourite authors.

Good progress was being made by disabled pupils or those with special educational needs. Pupils who received support through specialised programmes such as "Reading Recovery" and "Numbers Count" were making solid and in some cases exceptional progress.

Pupils were also classed as "enthusiastic learners", who were engaged in their school work, happy and confident to learn and eager to accept a challenge.

Ofsted also noted how pupils had successfully addressed their previous low attainment and gaps in their knowledge and understanding.

 Three out of the four key judgements (quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils, leadership and management) were rated as "good" including the overall quality of teaching.

According to the key stage one national assessment last year, there was a sharp improvement in pupils' attainment in reading, writing and maths. The key stage two assessments also saw an improvement in maths.

Commenting on the school's progress, the Ofsted report said: "The new leadership team has been uncompromising in its high expectations for pupils' learning. The team has made significant improvements to planning and teaching, the provision for pupils whose circumstance make them vulnerable, to pupils' underachievement and to the school environment. It has introduced clear systems for systematic monitoring and evaluation to ensure that improvements can be built upon and sustained."

It added: "Governors, led by a knowledgeable and committed chairperson, have been instrumental in the school's improvement. They have worked tirelessly and taken very difficult decisions so that the school is now well placed to improve further."

To improve further, the school needs to raise pupils' attainment, particularly for boys, to at least the national average in English and maths by the end of Year 2 and Year 6; provide more opportunities for pupils to work independently and direct their own learning and provide a variety of interesting opportunities for pupils to practise and develop their basic skills in different contexts.

Catherine McDonald, Southwark's cabinet member for children's services said: "This is excellent news for Crawford Primary School who are going from strength to strength and Ofsted's report clearly acknowledges this progress and all of the hard work by pupils, staff and parents alike.

"This is also further good news for Southwark's primary schools' which are now in the top quartile of the national league tables and enjoying a significant turnaround."

Since September 2011, Crawford Primary School has been led and managed by the Gipsy Hill federation of schools, a National Support School. It is in the process of becoming a full member of the federation.