Three schools in Bristol lost their ‘outstanding’ rating last year - and two now require improvement.
Hotwells Primary School, Henleaze Infant School and Ashley Down Primary School were all dealt a blow following their most recent inspections.
Schools rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted are exempt from routine inspections, but visits can be arranged where concerns about performance exist.
Hotwells Primary, on Hope Chapel Hill, was given a new rating of ‘requires improvement’ when it was inspected in September last year.
In its report, Ofsted criticised the quality of teaching, branding it “too variable”.
“Teachers do not consistently plan learning which is well-matched to pupils’ starting points,” wrote inspectors.
They also wrote that disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs were not making enough progress with reading, writing and mathematics.
The general progress at the end of Year 6 was not viewed as strong enough, either, while leaders’ self-evaluation was labelled “overgenerous”.
Yet the school was praised for its showing in several areas.
The curriculum ensured a broad range of subjects were covered, according to the report.
It also pointed out a “positive and nurturing environment” for pupils, who behaved well and enjoyed classes.
The school’s most recent inspection before last year was in January 2008. Since then it has become an academy.
Henleaze Infant School, branded ‘outstanding’ in November 2007, was rated ‘requires improvement’ in November last year.
Inspectors said the school, on Park Grove, had not been delivering on expectations set out in the national curriculum, with some pupils failing to receive work that was demanding enough.
Learning time was wasted, according to the Ofsted report, because leaders’ time management was not good enough.
The report also pointed out that, at times, pupils were distracted in lessons because activities in the classroom did not motivate or interest them.
“The quality of teaching is too variable over time and from class to class,” said the report, adding: “Too much teaching is too easy or too hard.”
However, the school was praised for keeping attendance high and inspectors were impressed with staff’s “nurturing” support to pupils.
The report also highlighted that pupils’ attainment at the end of key stage one had been above the national average for many years.
Ashley Down Primary School, on Downend Road, Horfield, was downgraded to ‘good’ in January, around 10 years on from its last inspection.
The standard of teaching was high, according to the Ofsted report, which noted that pupils enjoyed school and almost every parent who responded to an online survey said they would recommend the school.
All three schools were contacted by Bristol Live for comment, but none replied.
