National Society Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools Report Christ Church Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Christ Church Lane, Lichfield, WS13 8AY Diocese: Lichfield Local authority: Staffordshire Dates of inspection: 22nd March 2012 Date of last inspection: 27th March 2009 School’s unique reference number: 124457 Headteacher: Mrs Sheila Gaffiney Inspector’s name and number: Mrs Helen Gilbert 633 School context Christ Church VC Primary is a two form entry school with 396 pupils on roll serving an area of Lichfield. There is an average proportion of pupils with special needs and disabilities but the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals in below average. The original accommodation has been extensively extended and refurbished. The distinctiveness and effectiveness of Christ Church as a Church of England school are good The school has a strong Christian ethos which has a demonstrable effect upon the behaviour, attitudes and self-belief of pupils. The strong links with Christ Church and with Lichfield Cathedral ensure that children experience and understand the significance of Christian teaching and of Anglican traditions. Established strengths The strong Christian ethos creates a community where everyone cares and every child really does matter. The attitudes and behaviour of pupils are outstanding. Pupils have a secure knowledge of Bible stories. Pupils engage enthusiastically with worship. Focus for development Further enhance pupils’ spiritual development by creating more opportunities for prayer during the school day. Build the evaluation of the impact of worship upon pupils into the school self review cycle. Build on the good start made by the new Foundation Governors in evaluating the impact of the school’s work upon pupils. The school, through its distinctive Christian character, is good at meeting the needs of all learners The school’s Christian status is made explicit in the prospectus, school aims and on the website. Christian symbols are evident around the school and include the cross and Ecuadoran cross in the entrance, the wall-hanging in the hall, the worship table and reflective areas in the classrooms. The head and deputy model Christian values which are demonstrated by all staff in their attitudes and demeanour towards pupils. As one child said, “We have a very caring head teacher and teachers.” All pupils say that staff help them to improve, have high expectations and treat them fairly. As a result the school is very calm and peaceful, pupils feel safe and show care and respect towards each other. Pupils listen to their peers and there is a good climate for learning. Most pupils can talk about what makes a church school special. “It makes a difference.” “It has a big effect - it helps you believe in God.” A number of pupils said that hearing what they did in school would make them want to be Christians after they left. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school and spoke with gratitude about provision for an SEN pupil, support for a family during a difficult time and the increased social confidence discovered by a child who had transferred from another school. They appreciate the connection with the church and feel the Christian ethos and values makes a difference to their children. They believe the school gives their children a moral grounding that will stand them in good stead in later life. Pupils are involved in a number of fund raising initiatives and can explain the importance of the work of charities like WaterAid to provide clean drinking water for children in African countries. They also value the importance of learning about other faiths. As a result community cohesion is good. The impact of collective worship on the school community is good Pupils are very positive about worship and the majority say that it helps them to “think about God, respect God and respect others.” They enjoy Bible stories and children of all ages can talk about a range of stories from both the Old and New Testaments and about the lessons that these teach. Children believe that the focus on Bible stories during worship influences attitudes, behaviour and relationships throughout the school. Worship is planned around PSHE themes and also incorporates the main events of the Anglican Calendar. Throughout the week pupils experience whole school, phase group and classroom worship. The two acts of worship observed were lively and engaging and included opportunities for children to participate through song, prayer and reflection. Key Stage 2 worship built on pupils’ previous knowledge of Passover incorporating role play and a powerpoint presentation and ended with a reminder of God’s faithfulness to his people and of the importance of obedience to God. Through regular visits to Christ Church and to Lichfield Cathedral pupils are developing a good understanding of Anglican festivals and symbols. Pupils are able to explain the significance of Lent as well as the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection at Easter. Each classroom has a reflection area which pupils are free to use if they wish and staff are encouraged to use them as part of classroom worship. Pupils say the Lord’s prayer regularly, recognise that there is also a place for more informal types of prayer and enjoy writing their own prayers. Prayer for personal needs or for others during the school day through the use of prayer corners or a prayer tree is an area for development. Evaluation of worship is in its early stages. The co-ordinator has collected some written feed back from staff on specific acts of worship and this now needs developing systematically to be evaluative rather than descriptive. There has been some feedback from individual children but this now needs to be incorporated into the school’s annual evaluation cycle and include a wider sample of pupils. The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the school as a church school is good The head teacher demonstrates strong leadership and is ably supported by the deputy. They are effective role models of care and nurture and staff follow their example. There has also been a tradition of strong support and leadership from the clergy. Although this was interrupted during the interregnum, the new priest-in-charge already articulates a clear vision for supporting the school pastorally and also for making the small church more available for each year group to enjoy a quality visit each year. A new chair of governors, who is a parent governor and a member of the church, was appointed this year. There are also two new foundation governors who clearly recognise their role in supporting and evaluating the spiritual development of pupils. They have already initiated action to further develop the links between church and school which includes involving the church worship committee and including news of school events in the church’s bi-monthly magazine. All members of the School Council value their role and fulfil it with pride. They believe they are listened to and have been able to effect improvements - notably the change to lunchtime routines and the drive to save energy. The school has made some progress in addressing the development issues from the last inspection. Work has begun to create an outdoor area for quiet reflection and prayer and there are plans to complete this and hold a dedication service in the summer term. Clergy have provided opportunities for older pupils to learn about the Eucharist and they are able to explain its significance. School leaders and foundation governors recognise the need to incorporate the evaluation of worship and the wider work of the school as a church school into the annual self-review cycle. SIAS report Christ Church VC Primary School, Christ Church Lane, Lichfield,WS13 8AY, 22nd March 2012. .