Inspection Report Birley Spa Community Primary School
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INSPECTION REPORT BIRLEY SPA COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL Sheffield LEA area: Sheffield Unique reference number: 107067 Headteacher: Mr G. P. Mawson Reporting inspector: Mr G.R. Logan 11810 Dates of inspection: 19th – 22nd November 2001 Inspection number: 197594 Full inspection carried out under section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996 © Crown copyright 2001 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. INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL Type of school: Infant and junior School category: Community Age range of pupils: 3 to 11 Gender of pupils: Mixed School address: Jermyn Crescent Hackenthorpe Sheffield South Yorkshire Postcode: S12 4QE Telephone number: 0114 2399106 Fax number: 0114 2351236 Appropriate authority: The Governing Body Name of chair of governors: Mr R. Couldwell Date of previous inspection: 22nd – 25th September 1997 Birley Spa Community Primary School - 3 INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM Subject Aspect Team members responsibilities responsibilities 11810 Mr G.R. Logan Registered Mathematics; The school’s results inspector Music and achievements; How well pupils are taught; How well the school is led and managed; What the school should do to improve further 13395 Mrs J. Illingworth Lay inspector Pupils’ attitudes, values & personal development; How well the school cares for its pupils; How well the school works in partnership with parents; 10204 Mr D. Vincent Team inspector Information and The curricular and communication other opportunities technology; offered to pupils Design and technology; Equal opportunities 21816 Mrs B. Thomas Team inspector English; Religious education; English as an additional language 20007 Mr T. Neat Team Inspector Science; Geography; Physical education 1189 Mrs S. Brown Team inspector Art and design; History; Foundation Stage; Special educational needs Birley Spa Community Primary School - 4 The inspection contractor was: Arden Inspections University of Warwick Science Park. Unit 2, Barclays Venture Centre, Sir William Lyons Road Coventry CV4 7EZ Tel/Fax: 02476415299 Email: [email protected] Any concerns or complaints about the inspection or the report should be raised with the inspection contractor. Complaints that are not satisfactorily resolved by the contractor should be raised with OFSTED by writing to: The Complaints Manager Inspection Quality Division The Office for Standards in Education Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE Birley Spa Community Primary School - 5 REPORT CONTENTS Page PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT 7 Information about the school How good the school is What the school does well What could be improved How the school has improved since its last inspection Standards Pupils’ attitudes and values Teaching and learning Other aspects of the school How well the school is led and managed Parents’ and carers’ views of the school PART B: COMMENTARY HOW HIGH ARE STANDARDS? 12 The school’s results and pupils’ achievements Pupils’ attitudes, values and personal development HOW WELL ARE PUPILS TAUGHT? 15 HOW GOOD ARE THE CURRICULAR AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO PUPILS? 16 HOW WELL DOES THE SCHOOL CARE FOR ITS PUPILS? 18 HOW WELL DOES THE SCHOOL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS 20 HOW WELL IS THE SCHOOL LED AND MANAGED? 21 WHAT SHOULD THE SCHOOL DO TO IMPROVE FURTHER? 24 PART C: SCHOOL DATA AND INDICATORS 25 PART D: THE STANDARDS AND QUALITY OF TEACHING IN AREAS OF THE CURRICULUM, SUBJECTS AND COURSES 29 Birley Spa Community Primary School - 6 PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL Birley Spa Primary School is a community primary school with 403 pupils in the main school; 195 boys and 208 girls. In addition, there are 78 part-time pupils, 39 boys and 39 girls, in the nursery. At present many children begin nursery with well below average levels of skill, especially in the speaking and listening component of language. One hundred pupils in the main school have special educational needs, and six of these have statements. These figures are broadly in line with the national average. A further 16 children in the nursery are on the register of special educational needs, of whom one has a statement. A very small number of pupils are from minority ethnic groups, none of whom speak English as an additional language. Thirty per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals. This is above the national average. Pupil mobility is not a significant factor, with around 11 per cent of pupils leaving or joining the school each year, other than at the end of the year. The school has a Learning Mentor, funded through the Excellence in Cities initiative. In September 2001 the school was accepted as a Training School, in association with Sheffield Hallam University, to provide initial teacher training facilities for up to 12 graduate students per year. Since the last inspection the school has moved to a new school building, with a new nursery, which opened in 1999. HOW GOOD THE SCHOOL IS Birley Spa is an outstanding school. The headteacher is providing outstanding leadership. His vision, determination and hard work have been fundamental to the excellent progress made in the last four years in making the quality of education so very good. He is well supported by his deputy, all other staff and the governing body. There is a very strong, shared commitment to raising standards and to ensuring that the school provides a high quality education for its pupils. The quality of teaching in the main school is very good, with some excellent teaching across the age range. The quality of teaching in the Foundation Stage is excellent, providing children with an exceptional start to their education. There is a very high commitment to in-service training and the professional development of staff. The much improved teaching since the last inspection underpins the significantly improved standards being achieved across the school. Almost all pupils make very good progress. Standards in many subjects by the age of seven are above average. By the age of 11, standards in English, mathematics and science are well above average, overall. There is very good support for pupils with special educational needs. The curriculum has been imaginatively developed and now provides a rich range of opportunities for pupils, with a strong extra-curricular programme. There are excellent care arrangements. Parents are kept well informed about their child’s progress and the partnership with parents is excellent. The local community has an outstanding level of involvement in school life; in return the school makes a major contribution to its community and to the lives of the families it serves. The school is highly effective, has many strengths and profoundly enriches the lives of its pupils. It provides excellent value for money. What the school does well · The headteacher provides outstanding leadership for the school. He is supported strongly by his staff and the governing body. · The quality of teaching is very good overall; it is excellent in the Foundation Stage. · The school makes excellent provision for children in the Foundation Stage. · Pupils achieve very well throughout the school. · Many children enter the school with attainment which is well below average, yet standards in English and mathematics by the age of 11 are well above those achieved in similar schools. Standards in science are within the range achieved by the top five per cent of schools nationally. · Pupils’ attitudes and behaviour are very good and relationships are excellent. · The curriculum provides a broad, rich and stimulating experience for pupils. · Pupils’ moral and social development is excellent. Relationships are excellent. · The school provides outstanding care for its pupils. · The partnership with parents is excellent. What could be improved · Although much improved, attendance remains below the national average. Birley Spa Community Primary School - 7 HOW THE SCHOOL HAS IMPROVED SINCE ITS LAST INSPECTION The school was last inspected in September 1997. A number of areas for development were identified. The school required firmer leadership on curriculum matters and more clearly defined roles and responsibilities for staff. The quality of leadership is now considered to be outstanding. There is a high level of involvement and commitment from staff. The curriculum is now very rich and stimulating. Progress on this issue has been excellent. Standards of attainment have risen progressively over a four year period. The school is significantly outperforming similar schools and progress has been outstanding. Comprehensive schemes of work, adapted to the school’s needs, have been produced for all subjects. This represents a considerable commitment by subject managers. All schemes of work have been implemented fully. Procedures for assessing pupils’ progress have been revised and extended and the school uses assessment information very effectively to plan future work. Thorough systems for monitoring pupils’ progress have been implemented and are used very well. However, progress on these issues does not fully reflect the extent of the progress made in the last four years. The school has moved to new premises and re-established itself successfully. The quality of teaching and the provision for the professional development of staff have improved significantly. The Foundation Stage has been established and provides children with an excellent early experience. The school has been accorded the status of Training School for initial teacher training. Links with parents and the community and the care provided for pupils and their families have been improved and extended.