INSPECTION REPORT Landewednack
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INSPECTION REPORT Landewednack Community Primary School The Lizard, Helston LEA area: Cornwall Unique reference number: 111814 Headteacher: Mrs Sue Wilson Lead inspector: Mrs Rowena Onions Dates of inspection: 29 - 30 November 2004 Inspection number: 267174 Inspection carried out under section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996 © Crown copyright 2005 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. Landewednack Community Primary School- 2 INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL Type of school: Primary School category: Community Age range of pupils: 4 – 11 years Gender of pupils: Mixed Number on roll: 53 School address: Beacon Terrace The Lizard Helston Cornwall Postcode: TR12 7PB Telephone number: 01326 290337 Fax number: - Appropriate authority: The governing body Name of chair of Rev William Cole governors: Date of previous 7th December 1998 inspection: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL Landewednack School is a very small school, with 53 pupils on roll. The school caters for boys and girls from the age of four to eleven years. The school is on The Lizard in Cornwall and is isolated in its position. Most of its pupils have white British backgrounds. Three have dual heritage ethnic backgrounds. Some pupils live in the catchment area of the school but a significant number (20 per cent) are from further afield. The socio-economic context of the school is very mixed and is judged to be about average. The percentage of pupils taking free school meals is about average, being 18 per cent. The pupils entering the school, both into the reception class and further up the school, have a wide range of attainment but, overall, this is below average. There are ten pupils (19 per cent) currently identified as having special educational needs. This is about average. The school has pupils with a range of special needs including emotional and behavioural as well as learning difficulties. A higher than average number of pupils leave and join the school at times other than those expected. The school was a ‘Beacon’ school from 2000 to 2004. It has ‘Healthy School’ status. Landewednack Community Primary School- 3 INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM Members of the inspection team Subject responsibilities 18354 Rowena Onions Lead inspector Foundation Stage English Art and design Design and technology Music Special educational needs 31754 Charlotte Roberson Lay inspector 11227 John Moles Team inspector Mathematics Information and communication technology Science Religious education History Geography Physical education The inspection contractor was: Altecq Education Limited 102 Bath Road Cheltenham GL53 7JX Any concerns or complaints about the inspection or the report should be made initially to the 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.ofsted.gov.uk). Landewednack Community 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 and subjects 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 15 PART C: THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN AREAS OF LEARNING AND SUBJECTS 18 AREAS OF LEARNING IN THE FOUNDATION STAGE SUBJECTS IN KEY STAGES 1 AND 2 PART D: SUMMARY OF THE MAIN INSPECTION JUDGEMENTS 26 Landewednack Community Primary School- 5 PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT OVERALL EVALUATION Landewednack is a good school with some very good features. Because the overall quality of teaching and learning is good, pupils achieve well over their time in the school. They attain above average standards by Year 6. Leadership and management of the school are good and the parents think highly of the education their children receive. Despite its high costs, the school gives good value for money. The school’s main strengths and weaknesses are: • By Year 6, pupils attain above average standards in English, mathematics, science and information and communication technology (ICT). They achieve well. • Pupils like school very much. They are very keen to join in with all the activities provided. • Teachers work hard to provide pupils with activities that will interest and motivate them. • The good leadership of the headteacher is particularly successful in promoting a rich and exciting range of additional activities to enhance a good curriculum. • Assessment is not used as well as it could be in helping pupils to challenge themselves or to know how to improve their work. • Good governance is a key element in the smooth, successful running of the school. • There are very successful and productive links with parents and the local community. • Because a very small number of families do not send their children to school sufficiently regularly, attendance is well below the national average. The school has made good improvements since the last inspection. Standards in Year 6 have risen in English, mathematics and ICT. There are significant improvements in leadership and management, in the curriculum and in links with parents and the community. The school has addressed all the issues identified in the last report. STANDARDS ACHIEVED Results in National all schools similar schools Curriculum tests at the end 2002 2003 2004 2004 of Year 6, compared with: English C D B D mathematics B C A A science C B B C Key: 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. The school has very small year groups and this means that trends in results are unreliable, so the above table should be looked at with considerable caution. Over their time in the school, pupils’ achievement is good. Attainment on entry to the school is below average. Children in the reception year achieve well in the important aspects of communication, language and literacy and mathematical development. By the end of the year, most attain the national goals set for this age child but few exceed them. Achievement in Years 1 and 2 is satisfactory and, by Year 2, pupils attain average standards in reading, Landewednack Community Primary School- 6 writing, mathematics and science. In 2004, the very small group of Year 2 pupils attained average standards in the national assessments in reading and writing and above average standards in mathematics. Years 1 and 2 pupils gain secure basic skills in these subjects and this, along with the good teaching they receive, helps them to achieve well in Years 3 to 6. In 2004, Year 6 pupils attained above national average standards in English and science and well above average standards in mathematics. School tracking shows that most pupils had made good progress since Year 2, particularly in Years 5 and 6. Standards are at least maintained in the current Year 6 group. Because pupils are known and considered individually, those with special educational needs and those of higher attainment, including a small number who are gifted or talented, do well. Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is very good. Pupils’ attitudes to school are very good, they greatly enjoy being at school and learn to like learning. Behaviour is good. Pupils’ social, moral and spiritual development are all very good and their cultural development good. Despite the best efforts of the school and the obvious enjoyment of school amongst the pupils, a few families do not fully support the school by sending their children to school regularly. As a result, attendance is well below the national average. QUALITY OF EDUCATION The school provides a good quality of education. Teaching and learning are good overall. Communication, language and literacy and mathematical development are well taught in the reception year. High expectations ensure the success of teaching for pupils in Years 3 to 6. Changes in staffing have taken time to settle in Years 1 and 2 and the quality of teaching and learning is currently satisfactory. All teachers try hard to interest and motivate pupils by their choice of activities and by linking learning in one subject to that in another. The school provides a good curriculum that is notable for the way it is enriched. Links with parents, the community and other schools are very good and have a direct impact on pupils’ achievement. LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT Leadership and management are good. The headteacher provides good leadership, giving clear direction for the school and taking on a very heavy workload to try to ensure that the school lives up to this vision. Because there are few permanent members of staff, although each works hard and supports the school, the contribution they are able to make is only satisfactory. Governance is good and governors support the headteacher where they can. They successfully ensure that all statutory duties are met. Finances are well managed and the headteacher and governors are particularly successful in finding sources of extra funding for the school. PARENTS’ AND PUPILS’ VIEWS OF THE SCHOOL Parents are very pleased with the school. They particularly like its ‘family’ feel and the broad curriculum offered to their children.