Setting

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

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Mr D Bullock Headteacher Inglehurst Junior School Ingle Street Leicester LE3 9FS

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Ofsted 2011–12 subject survey inspection programme: citizenship

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of the staff and pupils during my visit on 18 January 2012 to look at work in citizenship.

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Ofsted 2011–12 subject survey inspection programme: citizenship

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.

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Ofsted 2011–12 subject survey inspection programme: citizenship

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

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Ofsted 2011–12 subject survey inspection programme: citizenship

The overall effectiveness of citizenship is outstanding.

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Achievement in citizenship

Achievement in citizenship is good with outstanding features.

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Achievement in citizenship

 Pupils demonstrate secure understanding of citizenship issues. Overall, their personal development is outstanding, arising from a strong curriculum, outstanding teaching and a school ethos and atmosphere that suitably promotes active citizenship. Pupils have a good grasp of rights and responsibilities, the law and justice system, environmental issues and sustainability and demonstrate respect for identity and diversity.  In discussion, pupils are open, confident and knowledgeable. They are encouraged to express their views, listen to others and form informed opinions on a wide range of topics. They are knowledgeable about current affairs, talking enthusiastically about current news stories.  Pupils’ understanding of democracy and representation is developed through the successful work of their school council. However, they are less secure in terms of how democracy works from a local to national level.

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Achievement in citizenship

 The extensive opportunities for active participation provide pupils with a rich variety of leadership activities. These are incorporated under the umbrella of the highly successful ‘Pupil Community Management Team’. Many pupils readily take responsibility with confidence on the school council, as members of ‘Team Chicken’, ‘Zone Parc’ leaders, ‘Reading Crew’ or as school helpers and monitors. The school constantly seeks to extend such opportunities to a greater number of pupils.

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Quality of teaching in citizenship

The quality of teaching in citizenship is outstanding.

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Quality of teaching in citizenship

 The teaching observed was outstanding; consequently, pupils were lively, motivated and thoroughly enjoying their learning. Excellent relationships are evident; teachers have high expectations and maintain an excellent level of challenge. In particular, teachers are skilled in supporting pupils to develop emotional intelligence. They consistently encourage reflection and empathy in appreciating differing viewpoints.  A range of successful approaches is used effectively with a variety of activities, including individual, pair and group work. Teachers achieve a good balance of teacher talk and pupil activity. In an excellent Year 6 literacy lesson where pupils were developing arguments for and against the keeping of animals in zoos, the teacher initially chaired the debate and withdrew at a suitable point, successfully handing over the role to a pupil. Consequently, pupils gain confidence in contributing to discussions,

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Quality of teaching in citizenship

exploring their thinking on various issues. They have good opportunities to work independently and cooperate well with their peers.  Technology is used very effectively to stimulate learning. During this visit appropriate use of video clips, newspaper articles and photographs was evident; teachers used excellent quality resources very well to stimulate pupils’ thinking and prompt their responses.

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Quality of the curriculum in citizenship

The quality of the curriculum in citizenship is outstanding.

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Quality of the curriculum in citizenship

 Citizenship has prominence across the curriculum. The programme is coherent and well-balanced, having an excellent impact on pupils’ learning and understanding. Teachers demonstrate flexibility in developing citizenship themes effectively across a range of subjects.  The curriculum is strongly inclusive of all pupils. The attention paid to building the confidence and self-esteem of potentially vulnerable pupils is exemplary and ensures that all pupils are able to access both the formal curriculum and a variety of enrichment activities.  Good links with agencies and groups beyond the school strengthen and extend provision. For example, links with other UK schools and with a school in Kenya enrich pupils’ understanding of life beyond their school, particularly in terms of their appreciation of difference and diversity.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management in citizenship

The effectiveness of leadership and management in citizenship is outstanding.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management in citizenship

 You and your staff express a clear and convincing vision for the place and status of citizenship learning across the curriculum; many aspects of the school’s work promote this effectively, including the whole-school emphasis on right and responsibilities. Discussions with pupils indicated that this is having an excellent impact on their attitudes and understanding.  The importance of responsible action is integral to the ethos and philosophy of the school’s work. A cohesive community is evident, within which pupils are encouraged to work well together and care for each other.  The subject is well resourced in terms of curriculum time, expertise of teachers and excellent resources to support learning. The quality of the learning environment is superb. Excellent quality displays around the school strongly support and reinforce pupils’ learning.  Pupils feel they have a strong voice in school. They say that they are

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Effectiveness of leadership and management in citizenship

making a difference in continually improving their school. Those with leadership responsibilities understand the importance of their work in making a positive contribution and value the skills and confidence that they gain from these roles.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

 improve pupils’ understanding of democracy and how government works at different levels through strengthening curriculum coverage of this aspect.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

I hope that these observations are useful as you continue to develop citizenship in the school.

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

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