INSPECTION REPORT COLD NORTON PRIMARY SCHOOL Cold
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
INSPECTION REPORT COLD NORTON PRIMARY SCHOOL Cold Norton, Essex LEA area: Essex Unique reference number: 114904 Headteacher: Mrs A Church Lead inspector: Mrs S D Morgan Dates of inspection: 10th – 12th November 2003 Inspection number: 261409 Inspection carried out under section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996 © Crown copyright 2004 This report may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that all extracts quoted are reproduced verbatim without adaptation and on condition that the source and date thereof are stated. Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the School Inspections Act 1996, the school must provide a copy of this report and/or its summary free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied. Cold Norton Primary School - 2 INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL Type of school: Primary School category: Community Age range of pupils: 4-11 Gender of pupils: Mixed Number on roll: 139 School address: St Stephen’s Road Cold Norton Chelmsford Essex Postcode: CM3 6JE Telephone number: 01621 827086 Fax number: 01621 829561 Appropriate authority: The governing body Name of chair of governors: Mr B Pead Date of previous inspection: November 1998 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL Cold Norton is a small primary school. It has 126 pupils in Years 1 to 6 and 21 children in the Reception year. There are more girls than boys in almost all year groups. A high proportion of pupils (95 per cent) are white British. No pupils speak English as an additional language. Pupil mobility is relatively high. Almost 20 per cent of pupils did not start their education at the school and 50 per cent of pupils in Year 6 have not had continuous education at the school. The area the school serves has some social deprivation. However, the number of families claiming free school meals has declined and now represents about one per cent of pupils, which is well below average. The attainment of pupils on entry to the Reception year varies year-on-year from below average to average. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs, at just below 12 per cent, is below the national average and fluctuates from year to year due to the small number of pupils on roll. No pupils have a statement of special educational need. Pupils’ needs mostly relate to learning difficulties and behaviour problems and a small number have a physical disability. A significant number of staff changes have occurred during the last two years. Currently, one post is filled by a temporary teacher. The school is involved in initiatives such as Safer Journeys to School and the Healthy Schools Initiative. It has gained the Schools Achievement Award. Cold Norton Primary School - 3 INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM Members of the inspection team Subject responsibilities 1355 Mrs S D Morgan Lead inspector Science, Information and Communication technology (ICT), art and design, design and technology 9053 Mrs V Phillips Lay inspector 28069 Mr D Mylroie Team inspector Mathematics, geography, history, physical education, religious education, English as an additional language 30669 Mrs M Sandercock Team inspector Foundation stage, English, music, special educational needs The inspection contractor was: e-Qualitas Limited Langshaw Pastens Road Limpsfield Chart Oxted Surrey RH8 0RE Any concerns or complaints about the inspection or the report should be made initially to the inspection contractor. The procedures are set out in the leaflet ‘Complaining about Ofsted Inspections’, which is available from Ofsted Publications Centre (telephone 07002 637833) or Ofsted’s website (www.oftsed.gov.uk). Cold Norton Primary School - 4 REPORT CONTENTS Page PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT 6 PART B: COMMENTARY ON THE MAIN INSPECTION FINDINGS STANDARDS ACHIEVED BY PUPILS 8 Standards achieved in areas of learning, subjects and courses Pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities QUALITY OF EDUCATION PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL 11 Teaching and learning The curriculum Care, guidance and support Partnership with parents, other schools and the community LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 17 PART C: THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN AREAS OF LEARNING, SUBJECTS AND COURSES 19 AREAS OF LEARNING IN THE FOUNDATION STAGE SUBJECTS IN KEY STAGES 1 AND 2 PART D: SUMMARY OF THE MAIN INSPECTION JUDGEMENTS 30 Cold Norton Primary School - 5 PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT OVERALL EVALUATION Cold Norton is a good and effective school. The headteacher provides good leadership and is well supported by key governors. This has ensured that standards have been maintained and some aspects of the school’s work have improved during a period of staff changes. Pupils’ achievements are good overall. The quality of teaching is good with some strong features. Pupils are valued and supported well. The school provides good value for money. The school’s main strengths and weaknesses are · Results in end of Year 6 national tests in 2003 were very high. · Pupils achieve well as a result of good teaching. · Very good provision is made for children in the Foundation Stage. · Very good use is made of classroom assistants, particularly to support pupils with special educational needs. · Standards of writing and the presentation of pupils’ work require improvement. · Provision for information and communication technology (ICT) is unsatisfactory but improving. · The school values its pupils and supports them well. · Good use is made of assessment information in the Foundation Stage and in English and mathematics to help pupils learn effectively. · Good leadership by the headteacher has ensured that standards have been maintained and aspects of the school’s work improved. Improvement has been satisfactory since the school was last inspected. Standards in national tests have fluctuated, however, results in Year 6 for the last two years have been very high and show that pupils achievements were very good in relation to their test results at the end of Year 2. Almost all of the strengths identified at the time of the last inspection have been maintained and teaching and curriculum planning have improved. All of the issues raised in the last inspection report have been dealt with systematically. STANDARDS ACHIEVED Results in National all schools similar schools Curriculum tests at the end of Year 6, compared with: 2001 2002 2003 2003 English D A* A* A mathematics D A* A* A science D A* A A Key: A* - very high; A - well above average; B – above average; C – average; D – below average; E – well below average Similar schools are those whose pupils attained similarly at the end of Year 2. Pupils’ achievements are good. Overall, results in the end of Year 6 national tests in 2003 were in the highest five per cent when compared to those nationally. Children’s attainment when they start school varies from year to year from average to below. In the Foundation Stage children achieve well because teaching is very well planned and organised and provides a range of interesting learning experiences. In Years 1 and 2 pupils achievements are satisfactory overall. In the current Year 2 pupils’ achievements are good in mathematics, science and religious education. Pupils’ achievements in English are only satisfactory due to weaknesses in writing. In Year 6 current standards are well above average in mathematics and above average in English, science, history and religious education. Standards are not as high as last year in English, mathematics and science as the current Year 6 does not have as many high-attaining pupils. Pupils are not achieving as well as they should in ICT in Years 1 to 6 as they do not cover all aspects of the National Curriculum and apply their skills in other subjects. Cold Norton Primary School - 6 Pupils’ personal qualities, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are promoted well. Pupils’ behaviour is satisfactory and this, together with satisfactory attendance and good punctuality, support pupils’ achievement well. QUALITY OF EDUCATION The quality of education provided by the school is good. The quality of teaching and learning is good, with a number of strengths. Although the school has been through a period of staff changes this has been managed well. The best teaching was observed in the Foundation Stage and in Years 5 and 6. Teaching for children in the Foundation Stage is very good. It is very well planned and organised and provides a range of interesting learning experiences which enable children to make very good learning gains. In Years 5 and 6 teachers have very good subject knowledge and lessons are lively and interesting. In all other classes teaching is at least satisfactory. However, a weakness is the teaching of ICT. Not all areas required by the National Curriculum are taught and a lack of access to computers does not allow pupils to apply and develop their knowledge and understanding sufficiently. Throughout the school the work of teaching assistants makes a significant contribution to pupils’ learning. The quality of assessment of pupils’ work is satisfactory overall. The curriculum is well planned and provides a good range of activities. The school takes good care of pupils. It involves them well in its work by asking for and acting on their views on ways of improving school life. The school’s partnership with parents is satisfactory, as are its links with the local community and other schools. LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT Overall leadership and management of the school are good. The headteacher has a clear vision of what the school should be aiming to achieve and is supported well by key members of the governing body. Together they have been successful in dealing with staffing difficulties and minimising their impact on pupils.