Setting

CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 1231231 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566934 Direct F 01695 729320 gtunnicliffe@cfbt.com www.cfbt-inspections.com

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Mrs L Bardsley Headteacher St Peter's CofE Primary School Oxford Street Ashton-Under-Lyne Lancashire OL7 0NB

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Primary School

Thank you for the help which you and your staff gave me when I inspected your school on 7 April 2011, for the time you gave to our planning meeting and for the information which you provided during the inspection. Please could you pass on my thanks to the Chair and Vice- Chair of Governors, the representative of the local authority and the group of pupils who took time to speak with me.

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Primary School

As a result of the inspection on 2 February 2010, the school was asked to address the most important areas for improvement which are set out in the annex to this letter.

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Primary School

Since the 2010 inspection, one teacher has joined the school and another has remained on maternity leave. The school has embarked on a major building programme which is due to be completed in the summer term of 2011.

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Primary School

Having considered all the evidence I am of the opinion that at this time the school has made satisfactory progress in making improvements and satisfactory progress in demonstrating a better capacity for sustained improvement.

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Primary School

Since the last inspection there have been improvements in the attainment at the end of both Key Stages 1 and 2. The proportion of pupils making expected progress is increasing particularly in English. There are indications that these improvements are continuing and, although they may fluctuate in 2011, the school has set ambitious targets for 2012.

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Primary School

The school has focused appropriately on developing writing and this is being extended through other subjects where pupils are given feedback about the use of punctuation and developing better sentence structures. This work is ongoing and is being supported by lessons on identifying features of writing and the use of grammar in texts.

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Primary School

Teachers have engaged in training focused on the use of assessment to support pupils’ learning and extending their mathematical knowledge. These aspects are being January 2011

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Primary School

Page2 implemented in their teaching and monitored by senior leaders. Consequently the quality of teaching is improving although there is some variability within this which the school is aware of. In the better lessons, teachers use assessment information well to ensure that all groups of pupils are working at a suitably challenging level and make good progress. In less successful lessons there is an over-emphasis on ‘teacher talk’ and the progression of learning to enable pupils to achieved desired outcomes is not sufficiently clear. Many pupils receive additional help which is supportive and reassuring although, too often, it is insufficiently challenging to enable them to make better progress or further develop their independence.

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Primary School

The local authority has provided helpful guidance and support particularly through a partnership with a National Leader in Education and support for middle leaders from a partner school through the ‘Greater Manchester Challenge’. This has been effective in developing leadership and management at all levels within the school. Teachers are fully aware of, and committed to, the school’s improvement plans which are monitored and reviewed regularly with the involvement of the governing body. The new assessment co- ordinator has introduced an electronic system for tracking pupils’ progress. This system is enabling the school to identify weaknesses in the progress of groups and classes across the school.

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Primary School

The headteacher has a detailed, honest and accurate view of the strengths and weaknesses of the school. She is continuing to develop structures and systems to increase the school’s capacity to improve. Leaders and managers have greater clarity and focus in their roles and the governors are involved in meetings with teachers to review pupils’ progress every half term.

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Primary School

I hope that you have found the inspection helpful in promoting improvement in your school. This letter will be posted on the Ofsted website.

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The areas for improvement identified during the inspection which took place

- improving the accuracy and consistency of pupils' punctuation

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The areas for improvement identified during the inspection which took place

- teaching pupils to construct well-formed and detailed sentences which read correctly

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The areas for improvement identified during the inspection which took place

- making maximum use of writing in other subjects to further pupils' skills.

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The areas for improvement identified during the inspection which took place

- ensuring that teachers consistently make full use of assessment to provide work that challenges pupils of all abilities and builds securely on what they already know and can do

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The areas for improvement identified during the inspection which took place

- providing more opportunities for pupils to think for themselves and develop as independent learners

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The areas for improvement identified during the inspection which took place

- strengthening teachers' subject knowledge in mathematics.

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The areas for improvement identified during the inspection which took place

 Improve the effectiveness of leadership and management by:

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The areas for improvement identified during the inspection which took place

- ensuring that all teachers with leadership and management responsibilities make a full and effective contribution to school improvement and development

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The areas for improvement identified during the inspection which took place

- developing tracking systems which provide a clear picture of how well different groups of pupils are achieving.

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