Setting

CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 1231231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566 937 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: jsimmons@cfbt.com

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Mr Nielsen Headteacher Barmby Moor Church of England Primary School Flat Lane Barmby Moor York North Yorkshire YO42 4EQ

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Church of England Primary School

Thank you for the help which you and your staff gave when I inspected your school on 1 March 2012. I am grateful to the vice-chair of the governing body, a parent governor and a representative from the local authority for sparing the time to meet with me. It was a pleasure to speak to pupils, so please also pass on my thanks to them.

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Church of England Primary School

Since the last inspection, a new administrative officer has been appointed, one teacher has left the school and a new coordinator for special educational needs has been appointed.

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Church of England Primary School

As a result of the inspection on 3 and 4 November 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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Church of England Primary School

Having considered all the evidence I am of the opinion that at this time the school has made good progress in making improvements.

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Achievement of pupils at the school

The school’s work to improve pupils’ achievement has been effective. Attainment has improved and by July 2011 was above average by the end of both Key Stages 1 and 2. The proportion of pupils gaining the higher levels also improved. The school’s focus on improving reading is proving successful and attainment at the age of 7 and 11 is above average. Boys, girls, disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs make equally good progress as one another. Work seen in pupils’ books, lessons observed and information from the school’s own extensive assessment data demonstrate that this positive picture of improvement is reflected across the whole school. Development in the school’s curriculum, the consistently better teaching, effective use of information and communication technology and the pupils’ own desire to succeed, have all contributed to the improvement in pupils’ achievement. Pupils’ good attendance and punctuality have enabled lessons to start

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Achievement of pupils at the school

Page2 promptly so no time is wasted. Pupils are currently well on their way to achieve their challenging end of year targets.

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The quality of teaching

A wide range of evidence demonstrates that, as a result of both stronger leadership and the commitment of all staff, the quality of teaching has improved and is now more consistent across the school. The quality of marking has improved and pupils say they appreciate the time to review teachers’ guidance, as ‘it is helping our work get better each day’. While this practice is much better throughout the school, there remain occasional examples where marking concentrates on praising pupils’ efforts rather than providing clear steps for improvement. Pupils explain that teachers’ introductions to lessons are more concise and that allows more time for independent work. The school has ensured a link between homework, school trips, visitors to class and work in lessons. Pupils are benefiting from this joined up approach. There are several examples of how teachers promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, which are planned into the curriculum. This is best

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The quality of teaching

illustrated in the reading programme recently introduced in the Year 3 and Year 4 class. A structured approach is not only helping to develop pupils’ reading skills, but also allows opportunities for pupils to reflect upon how they engage emotionally with stories. This provides better opportunities for pupils to practise their skills at listening to the viewpoints of others and express their own opinions. Support staff are effectively deployed, ensuring all pupils make better progress, including those who are disabled or who have special educational needs.

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Behaviour and safety of pupils

Judged good at the time of the last inspection, pupils’ attendance remains above average and their positive attitudes to learning have made significant contributions to the accelerated progress they make in lessons. Pupils say they appreciate the positive steps teachers and support staff are making to listen to their views and engage with their interests. An example of this appreciation can be seen in one pupil’s comment ‘ this is a very friendly school and we behave well’. Pupils explain that they are capable of sorting out any minor upsets themselves, but if they need the help of teachers or mid-day staff their problems are very quickly resolved. Pupils say that they are confident that bullying does not occur. Parents and carers spoken to, or those who took the opportunity to write to the inspector, speak very highly of the friendly, supportive school and of the improvements which have been made.

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The quality of leadership and management of the school

At the time of the last inspection the school was judged to have a good capacity to improve. This has secured measurable improvement since that time. Leaders are reflective and have taken effective action to ensure attainment has risen and the quality of teaching has improved. Leaders at all levels use a range of monitoring activities to evaluate the impact of actions taken. This is helping members of the governing body to become much better January 2012

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The quality of leadership and management of the school

Page3 informed and equips them to offer support and challenge in equal measure. School leaders have ensured safeguarding requirements are met. The relentless drive to improve attainment, accelerate progress and ensure achievement is good has been coupled with an equal determination to ensure the creative curriculum and pupils’ enjoyment of school life has been maintained. The effectiveness of the good support provided by the local authority has been appreciated in terms of whole-school developments, improvements in individual teachers’ classroom practice and effective guidance for those who are new to a particular leadership role.

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The quality of leadership and management of the 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 quality of leadership and management of the school

Jim Alexander Additional Inspector January 2012

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November 2010

 Build on recent improvements so that attainment becomes clearly above average and achievement is consistently good for all groups of pupils:  ensure that the quality of teaching and learning is consistently high, particularly in the way it involves pupils in:  working out what counts as really good work  tackling challenges more independently  responding to marking to improve their work swiftly.

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