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 S Sloan Headteacher Cumberworth CE VA First School Cumberworth Lane Upper Cumberworth Huddersfield HD8 8NU

p.1

bullying practice in schools

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of your staff and pupils, during my visit on 8 November 2011 as part of our survey of schools’ work to create a positive school culture and prevent and tackle bullying.

p.1

bullying practice in schools

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

bullying practice in schools

This letter briefly summarises our discussion at the end of the visit.

p.1

Strengths of this aspect of the school’s work

 You have successfully created an open, transparent and supportive culture based on Christian values which underpins the good relationships between all members of the school community. Staff know the pupils and their families very well and an atmosphere of mutual trust results in an understanding that all members of the community are working together to ensure the care and safety of pupils. Consequently, respect, care and courtesy among all members of the community are evidenced as you enter and walk around the school.  The planned curriculum provides opportunities for pupils’ social and moral development effectively. Teachers link National Curriculum subjects and the religious education syllabus to create interesting termly plans. Personal, social, health, citizenship and economic education (PSHCE) aspects are incorporated into the plans and taught within each topic. For example, in Key Stage 1, pupils cover a topic on ‘ourselves’ which then

p.1

Strengths of this aspect of the school’s work

extends to an understanding and valuing of other people’s differences. In Key Stage 2, current events are used successfully to provoke discussion about social and moral issues. Assemblies are used to focus on any emerging issues and teachers amend weekly plans to respond to any behaviour issues which may arise. However, the school is at the point of reviewing the delivery of PSHCE to ensure that pupils’ key skills are built upon each year.  The majority of pupils articulate the school’s expectations very well and know how to treat other people in school. They talk confidently about how SSSO (stay safe, speak out), STOP (several times on purpose) and the visual prompts remind them how to behave and tackle bullying. Pupils have a good understanding of the action they should take if they are worried or upset and are confident that any unacceptable behaviour or bullying would be challenged and dealt with fairly. Older pupils talk

p.1

Strengths of this aspect of the school’s work

maturely about how it takes time for bullying to stop completely as some pupils need support in how to change their behaviour. Pupils say they feel safe in school.  The school council is very active in highlighting the need to promote positive behaviour and combat any bullying. Before work planned for anti- bullying week, members have created an anti-bullying charter which states ’Bullies are not welcome at our school’. They made a presentation to each class and persuaded all pupils to sign the charter. School councillors have future plans to introduce befrienders to help pupils make friends.  The school has policies for behaviour and anti-bullying including cyber- bullying which set out the school’s values and how members of the school community should contribute to maintaining a positive school atmosphere. There is a strong focus on reinforcing positive behaviour. The policy sets out clearly the actions that you and staff will take if bullying occurs and is

p.2

Strengths of this aspect of the school’s work

consistently adopted throughout the school. The school has surveyed the opinions of parents, carers and pupils on behaviour. Action taken to respond to any issues raised has been successful in increasing confidence in the school’s ability to create a positive learning culture and tackle any bullying.

p.2

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

 ensuring clarity about the sequence of actions which are taken to promote positive behaviour so that younger pupils are secure about sanctions  monitoring and evaluating the types and frequency of any bullying incidents to inform future planning  extending the monitoring and evaluating process of the school to include PHSCE to enable monitoring of progression over time  updating staff training on aspects connected with bullying and behaviour to ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to challenge all aspects of unacceptable behaviour.

p.2

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

I hope that this visit has been useful in the further development of this aspect of the school’s work.

p.2

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

As 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. A copy of this letter is also being sent to your local authority. Yours sincerely

p.2