Setting

Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0300 123 1231 F 020 7421 6855 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

Mr K Basnett Headteacher Childwall Valley Primary School Craighurst Road Liverpool L25 1NW

p.1

design

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of the staff and pupils, during my visit on 17 and 18 January 2011 to look at work in art, craft and design.

p.1

design

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our national evaluation and reporting. Published reports are likely to list the names of the contributing institutions but individual institutions will not be identified in the main text without their consent.

p.1

design

The evidence used to inform the judgements included: interviews with staff and pupils; scrutiny of relevant documentation; analysis of pupils’ work; and observation of seven lessons.

p.1

design

The overall effectiveness of art, craft and design is good

p.1

Achievement in art, craft and design

Pupils’ achievement in art, craft and design is good.

p.1

Achievement in art, craft and design

 Children enter the Early Years Foundation Stage with below average levels of ability in their creative development. They get off to a flying start, make good progress and achieve well by the time they enter Key Stage 1.  A range of exciting experiences enables the children to build their skills and understanding and develop the confidence to communicate their own ideas, thoughts and feelings using a wide range of tools and materials.  Pupils continue to make good progress and reach at least satisfactory and often good standards by the end of Year 6.This is because of the progressive way that skills and knowledge are taught, the good range of opportunities available for pupils to experiment and explore in two and three dimensions and because pupils’ views are actively sought in development of their topics; sustaining their excitement and interest.  From entry into the Early Years Foundation Stage, children become very

p.1

Achievement in art, craft and design

accomplished in developing and expressing ideas in an impressive range of digital media. Equipment confidently mastered by the end of Year 6 includes the use of green-screens, photography, film-making and animation.  Pupils say that lessons are great fun and that they enjoy the range of activities, materials and media they experience.

p.2

Quality of teaching of art, craft and design

The quality of teaching of art, craft and design is good.

p.2

Quality of teaching of art, craft and design

 Skilled, motivated, and enthusiastic teachers transmit their enthusiasm well; all lessons observed were characterised by good relationships and pupils’ good behaviour and attitudes to learning.  Lessons are planned well, structured and detailed with clear learning objectives that build effectively on pupils’ prior achievements.  Teachers’ ongoing feedback helps pupils to talk informatively about what they are doing and their decision-making. Regular formal assessment, pupils’ self-evaluation and views from their peers ensure pupils know how well they are doing and what they could improve.  Pupils who find the subject difficult are supported well by adults. They successfully achieve their learning objectives and also make good progress from their individual starting points.  Pupils develop their ideas on loose paper rather than in sketchbooks. This limits their opportunities to develop more ideas, practise skills and

p.2

Quality of teaching of art, craft and design

techniques or reflect on their achievements over time.

p.2

Quality of the curriculum in art, craft and design

The quality of the curriculum in art, craft and design is outstanding.

p.2

Quality of the curriculum in art, craft and design

 Over recent years the school has developed the subject very well within the creative, topic-based ‘International Primary Curriculum’.  ‘Milestone’ documents aligned to the National Curriculum programmes of study are checked assiduously to make certain that planned opportunities are in place to ensure progression in all aspects of the curriculum.  The curriculum is enriched effectively through collaboration with a local secondary school and by visitors to and visits outside of school.  Pupils enjoy the various opportunities to visit museums, their local environment to develop their skills and ideas, often photographing or filming them to help develop ideas further or record their successes.  Creativity weeks and the popular well-attended Art club successfully enrich the curriculum further.  Pupils have their own web pages and upload their portfolio of work so that children from across the world can see and comment on it.

p.2

Effectiveness of leadership and management of art, craft and design

The leadership and management of art, craft and design are good

p.3

Effectiveness of leadership and management of art, craft and design

 As part of a vision to stimulate pupils’ interest in, and love of learning, school leaders have put art, craft and design at the centre of the curriculum. This includes harnessing the benefits of up-to-date information and communication technology.  A third of the staff has expertise in the subject, including the coordinator. They share their enthusiasm and talents successfully with colleagues and pupils alike.  Effective monitoring and evaluation of the subject include scrutiny of teachers’ planning and pupils’ work, moderation of pupils’ achievements and analysis of assessment data; impact is evident in the well-developed curriculum and in pupils’ achievement.  Leaders and staff have a clear view of the subject’s strengths and the few areas that need further development. These are reflected within the school’s succinct art development plan which is monitored and reviewed regularly with staff and the governing body.

p.3

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

 providing pupils with sketchbooks to enable them to capture and develop ideas, practise skills and techniques so that they can reflect on their developing skills, knowledge and achievements over time.

p.3

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

I hope that these observations are useful as you continue to develop art, craft and design in the school.

p.3

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

As I explained previously, a copy of this letter will be published on the Ofsted website. It may be used to inform decisions about any future inspection. Except in the case of academies, a copy of this letter is also being sent to your local authority.

p.3