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

Ms D Nicholas Headteacher Great Abington Primary School High Street Great Abington Cambridge CB21 6AE

p.1

education (PE)

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of the staff and pupils, during my visit on 30 March 2011 to look at work in PE.

p.1

education (PE)

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

education (PE)

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

p.1

education (PE)

The overall effectiveness of PE is satisfactory.

p.1

Achievement in PE

 Pupils make satisfactory progress. Attainment in the Early Years Foundation Stage is close to expected levels, although children’s physical skills vary within and between cohorts. A good balance of adult-led and independent activities promotes positive physical development. Attainment at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2 is broadly average, although no assessment records are available to confirm this. Pupils’ achievements in games and swimming are relative strengths and it is usual for all Year 6 pupils to be able to swim 25 metres before they leave the school.  Pupils show positive attitudes in lessons and many participate with enthusiasm in a range of physical activities and games at lunchtimes. Pupils in Year 6 are able to recall the key features of a healthy lifestyle and explain what happens to their bodies when they exercise. They are also trained to lead play activities for younger pupils and contribute their views

p.1

Achievement in PE

on how provision in PE might be improved. Many pupils are involved in playing sport outside of school, including some individuals who are higher level performers.

p.2

Quality of teaching in PE

The quality of teaching in PE is satisfactory.

p.2

Quality of teaching in PE

 Improvements in planning and support from a leading teacher for PE have strengthened the overall quality of teaching in the last year. Good and satisfactory teaching was observed. A suitable lesson structure is in place and teachers’ planning identifies what pupils will learn and how it will be assessed. Teacher’s demonstrations and models displayed through information and communication technology were used well in one lesson. Teaching assistants are deployed suitably to support individuals and assess learning. Less effective aspects of teaching are: not ensuring that learning takes place at a brisk pace; and not providing suitable challenges for able pupils.  When the teaching is good, questioning and observations are used routinely to assess learning, and plans scrutinised indicate that assessments made in lessons help to inform future planning. Detailed assessments and records are kept of children’s achievements in the

p.2

Quality of teaching in PE

Reception and Year 1 class, but adopting a more systematic approach to assessing and recording attainment and progress has only just begun in the other classes.

p.2

Quality of the curriculum in PE

The quality of the PE curriculum is good.

p.2

Quality of the curriculum in PE

 Breadth and continuity in the curriculum have improved recently following a revision of the long-term plan for PE, and all areas of learning are included in a well-balanced programme. Pupils enjoy two hours of timetabled PE each week and this is supplemented with independent outdoor learning opportunities for the youngest children. Many pupils benefit from attending after-school sports clubs run by staff and visiting coaches. A positive association with the local sports partnership enables pupils in most year groups to take part in festivals and tournaments.  The links between PE and other subjects, such as science, help to enhance pupils’ learning about being healthy. Work in dance is also linked to thematic topics. All pupils have the chance to swim in the on-site swimming pool and older pupils take part in a number of outdoor and adventurous activities during a residential visit. Leaders also look for new

p.2

Quality of the curriculum in PE

ways to widen pupils’ involvement in different physical activities, for example in diving.

p.2

Effectiveness of leadership and management in PE

The effectiveness of leadership and management in PE is good.  Leaders are taking positive steps to strengthen provision and raise achievement, demonstrating a strong capacity to bring about improvements in PE. A subject evaluation has been used well to produce a comprehensive action plan, which includes the key priorities for improvement. Professional development support has been used effectively to improve the quality of teaching and good systems are in place to record pupils’ engagement in sports partnership events.  Monitoring and evaluation of the activities identified in the subject action plan include a programme of lesson observations to judge the impact of the improved curriculum planning. PE and sport have a suitably high profile with events and achievements communicated to parents and governors. Accommodation is good but the storage and accessibility of PE resources require reorganisation.

p.2

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

 continuing to strengthen the quality of teaching, including in the areas of PE where learning is less effective  introducing a workable system for assessing, recording and reporting pupils’ attainment and progress in PE  improving the storage and accessibility of PE resources and equipment.

p.3

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

I hope that these observations are useful as you continue to develop PE 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