'Boisterous lunchtimes' as poor behaviour blights primary school in Forest Town

A newly published report following a two-day inspection in October has resulted in an overall rating of ‘requires improvement’ for Forest Town Primary School, which has 372 pupils, aged three to 11, on its books.

The same rating was also applied to all five individual categories, including behaviour and attitudes, which the Ofsted inspectors criticised heavily.

“There is no consistent approach to dealing with poor behaviour,” said the inspectors’ report. "While many pupils behave well and join in with their learning, some do not.

“Lunchtimes are boisterous. Pupils resort to physical games because there is not enough for them to do.

“There is also some low-level disruption in classes. Teachers deal with this in different ways.

“Leaders do not have high enough expectations of how pupils should behave.”

On the positive side, Ofsted recognised the school Forest Town Primary was a “friendly” school that pupils and parents liked. Bullying “did not happen very often” and safeguarding was “effective”.

Pupils wore with pride badges they were rewarded with for following the school’s values, while programmes for teaching reading and phonics were going well.

The inspectors also found “pupils in the nursery get off to a good start” because “staff have high expectations”. But standards were not as high in the reception class, where children did “not show the same positive attitudes to learning”.

‘Requires Improvement’ was also the message sent to the Clipstone Road West school by Ofsted in the categories headed quality of education, personal development, leadership and management and early years’ provision.

“Leaders know there is much to be done to improve the school,” said the inspectors’ report.

"They have started to address these issues, and a new curriculum is in place.

"However, the teaching of the curriculum is inconsistent. Some teachers lack the subject expertise they need.

"Teachers have not had sufficient training to ensure they have the skills they need to support pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).”

The inspectors also said the school needed to ensure youngsters acquired a better knowledge of British values and other faiths and cultures.

The school has been approached for comment.