Schools & FE · School inspection (2012 framework)
Featherstone Primary School
Summary
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- Inspection date verified
7 Dec 2011
- Inspectorssingle source
Jane Melbourne
- Name on report verified
Featherstone Primary School
- URN verified
103318
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Strengths
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- Grade 1 Outstanding These features are highly effective. p.12
- An outstanding school provides exceptionally well for all its pupils’ needs. p.12
- The school promotes positive behaviour effectively and pupils are responding well to this. p.8
- They settle quickly and make rapid progress, particularly in their personal, social and emotional development and in their speaking and listening skills. p.9
- They soon learn the rules of being part of a group, the high expectations of the adults and the boundaries they are set, quickly adapting to routines and equally able to operate independently or play together. p.9
Concerns
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- There is sometimes a lack of challenge for higher attaining pupils, while the needs of the lower attaining pupils are not sufficiently identified. p.7
- In weaker lessons, instructions are unclear and not all pupils receive effective support. p.5
- Despite a focus on writing, pupils are not always extending their writing quickly enough and expectations are not sufficiently high in all classes. p.7
- The school meets my child’s particular needs 19 32 36 61 2 3 2 3 The school deals effectively with unacceptable behaviour 15 25 32 54 7 12 1 2 The school takes account of my suggestions and concerns 13 22 35 59 8 14 1 2 p.11
- Grade 4 Inadequate These features are not of an acceptable standard. p.12
Next steps
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- Improve the quality of teaching and learning, by: giving additional support to teachers new to the school sharing more widely the good practice that already exists within school improving the quality of the tasks set for pupils in lessons, ensuring they focus on improving learning monitoring the quality of teaching and learning more effectively. p.5
- Raise standards, by: ensuring the differing needs of learners are better accounted for in lessons through the better use of assessment information in planning assessing pupils’ work during lessons making regular reference to pupils’ targets and ensure the marking of pupils’ work shows them how to improve raising the aspirations of some of the pupils through effective challenge. p.5
- Further improve the capacity of new senior and middle leaders, by: prioritising strategic planning and development building capacity into the whole staff team and develop a shared Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory, and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms p.5
- Improve the quality of the outdoor learning opportunities for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage so they are able to freely access activities inside and outside. p.6
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Anatomy of the report
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- Pages
- 16
- Words of findings
- 4,090
- longer than usual (typical 3042)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 42, typical 45
- Average sentence
- 22 words
- Next steps
- 4
- typical 2
- Hedged sentences
- 13%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Age group 4–11 Inspection date(s) 6–7 December 2011 Inspection number 376874 Featherstone Primary School Inspection report
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Unique Reference Number 103318 Local Authority Birmingham Inspection number 376874 Inspection dates 6–7 December 2011 Reporting inspector Jane Melbourne HMI
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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.
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Type of school Primary School category Community Age range of pupils 4–11 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 204 Appropriate authority The governing body Chair Sylvia Macfarlane Acting Headteacher Edris Gaibee Date of previous school inspection 18 May 2009 School address Glenville Drive Birmingham B23 6PR Telephone number 0121 3732529 Fax number 0121 377 6347 Email address enquiry@feathstn.bham.sch.uk achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked
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after children, safeguarding and child protection. Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.
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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk
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Introduction
This inspection was carried out by one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors and two additional inspectors who observed 20 lessons taught by eight teachers. Meetings were held with pupils, representatives of the governing body and staff. Inspectors observed the school’s and pupils’ work and looked at documentation relating to teaching and the curriculum, the progress and achievement of pupils, the Early Years Foundation Stage, the welfare, health and safety of pupils, including policies and procedures for the care and protection of pupils (safeguarding), and the school’s self-evaluation of its work. The inspection team received 59 questionnaires from parents or carers, 110 questionnaires from pupils and 15 questionnaires from staff at the point of inspection.
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Introduction
The inspection team reviewed many aspects of the school’s work. It looked in detail at a number of key areas.
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Introduction
What are the schools targets for pupils’ attainment in the current academic year and are pupils on track to achieve their targets? What is the reason for any variation in the progress and achievement of groups of pupils and are current systems of support and intervention effective? What has the school done to raise the quality of teaching and learning and has this been effective? Has the school’s leadership been effective at all levels and have school leaders taken the necessary steps to bring about improvement since the last inspection?
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Information about the school
Featherstone is smaller than the average-sized primary school. Most pupils enter Reception from one of two local authority feeder nurseries. A large proportion of pupils are from minority ethnic communities and an above average number speak English as an additional language. The number known to be eligible for free school meals is above average, as is the number identified as having special educational needs and/or disabilities. A private provider offers before- and after-school childcare facilities on site, which are not part of this inspection.
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Information about the school
Since the last inspection there has been a complete change of senior management team. The current acting headteacher takes up a substantive role in school in January 2012. There is currently an acting deputy headteacher who is temporarily non-class based and the school is currently advertising to fill the deputy headteacher role on a permanent basis. There has also been a change of special educational needs coordinator and six new teachers to the school. Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory, and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms
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Main findings
Featherstone Primary School provides a satisfactory education. Staffing changes have hindered school progress and proposals for expanding the school have halted improvements in the outdoor provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The new senior leadership team has improved the use of data and developed satisfactory self- evaluation processes. Many aspects of leadership and management are new and roles are still being developed. However, the new team are moving at a rapid pace. Consequently, the school demonstrates a satisfactory capacity to improve further.
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Main findings
Children usually join the school with skills and abilities below those typical for their age. Cohorts vary, as does their performance across the different areas of learning. Children are making good progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage and by the end of this phase are broadly in line with expectations. Progress is satisfactory across the rest of the school, although it is good in some classes. Last year’s Year 6 pupils did not all make sufficient progress and attainment was lower than that reached nationally. New systems of collecting and analysing data and careful monitoring of progress have identified individuals and groups not making sufficient progress. Action has been taken to address this. Progress is now beginning to increase steadily and the attainment of current pupils is rising. Achievement is satisfactory overall. Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is satisfactory. Their
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Main findings
current progress is at least in line with other pupils. Although they do not always achieve as well as other pupils, the gap is closing, particularly in reading and writing where they receive some good quality interventions. Some staff lack sufficient training or guidance in implementing revised individual learning plans. Consequently, there are inconsistencies in the quality of the support provided in the classroom. Behaviour across the school is consistently good. The school has worked hard this term to raise attendance levels which are now around the national average. It is also working with the educational welfare service to improve pupils’ punctuality.
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Main findings
The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory, with good teaching seen in the Early Years Foundation Stage and in some year groups. However, not all staff plan well enough with their teaching assistants to maximise outcomes. Where pupils’ progress is assessed during lessons, teachers then make adaptations for those who learn quickly. This is not yet happening in every class effectively. Expectations are sometimes too low for those who learn more slowly and they are capable of producing more than is required of them. Individual targets are not referred to sufficiently during lessons or in the marking of work. The large majority of pupils have positive attitudes to learning, but a few pupils’ concentration wanes if they are Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory, and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms
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Main findings
left listening for too long and the aspirations of some pupils are too low. Features of the best lessons are a brisk pace, active learning, accurate explanations and skilled questioning that challenge pupils’ thinking. In weaker lessons, instructions are unclear and not all pupils receive effective support. Teachers have received training to improve the quality of teaching, but this has not yet eradicated all weak practice.
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Main findings
The curriculum is satisfactory. It builds effectively on pupils’ interests in the Early Years Foundation Stage and helps them move into the National Curriculum, whatever their starting point. Good emphasis is given to understanding letters and sounds. The school provides many enriching opportunities to enhance the curriculum and has recently extended the range of popular extra-curricular provision. There are many opportunities to write at length for the majority of pupils because there has been a whole-school priority on writing. However, there is not always the same expectation for those who find learning more difficult as their needs tend to be covered through interventions outside of the classroom. Topic work is carefully chosen to engage the pupils, and work on the ‘Hobbit Hole’ in the school grounds has begun with the intention of the project being used to fulfil all aspects of the curriculum. There is an
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Main findings
integrated topic based curriculum running in Key Stage 1 but in Key Stage 2 pupils are taught in discrete subject areas. Care, guidance and support are satisfactory overall. Pupils confirm that they feel well cared for and are safe.
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Main findings
Up to 40% of the schools whose overall effectiveness is judged to be satisfactory may receive a monitoring visit by an Ofsted inspector before their next section 5 inspection.
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What does the school need to do to improve further?
Improve the quality of teaching and learning, by: giving additional support to teachers new to the school sharing more widely the good practice that already exists within school improving the quality of the tasks set for pupils in lessons, ensuring they focus on improving learning monitoring the quality of teaching and learning more effectively.
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What does the school need to do to improve further?
Raise standards, by: ensuring the differing needs of learners are better accounted for in lessons through the better use of assessment information in planning assessing pupils’ work during lessons making regular reference to pupils’ targets and ensure the marking of pupils’ work shows them how to improve raising the aspirations of some of the pupils through effective challenge.
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What does the school need to do to improve further?
Further improve the capacity of new senior and middle leaders, by: prioritising strategic planning and development building capacity into the whole staff team and develop a shared Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory, and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms
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What does the school need to do to improve further?
responsibility for improving standards and teaching and learning.
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What does the school need to do to improve further?
Improve the quality of the outdoor learning opportunities for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage so they are able to freely access activities inside and outside.
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Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils 3
Where teaching is good, learning and progress are improving quickly. The vast majority of pupils enjoy their learning and are progressing and achieving satisfactorily. An example of enthusiasm for learning is when Year 2 pupils showed keenness in turning their sentences into ‘super sentences’ using more exciting vocabulary and a range of adjectives and adverbs. Staff and pupils make good use of the interactive white boards in lessons to aid learning. Current school data shows pupils in this academic year are now on track to achieve the expected levels of attainment at the end of both Key Stages 1 and 2. Pupils are now involved in setting their targets and most know where they are and what they need to do to achieve those targets. Targeted individual support, mostly in reading and writing, ensures that pupils with special educational needs and/or difficulties are progressing in line with other pupils. Through its improving use of data the school has identified that
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Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils 3
there are differences in the performance of some groups of pupils. It is starting to investigate this and adapt teaching and support accordingly, to ensure that all groups make the progress expected of them.
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Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils 3
Pupils say they feel safe. Their behaviour in lessons and around school is consistently good. The school encourages pupils to be aware of how to collectively address any incidences of bullying. They adopt healthy lifestyles by recognising the importance of eating fruit and vegetables in their diet and keeping hydrated. There is a good take up of sports and physical activity. Pupils make a strong contribution to the school community by taking on a number of special roles and responsibilities. The school council, for example, takes their responsibilities seriously. However, generally there are too few opportunities for pupils to get out into the wider community. A recent link with another school is beneficial, but too early to have made an impact. Pupils’ attendance has improved following school initiatives and is now broadly average. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is satisfactory. Pupils do have
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Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils 3
some time for reflection, for example in class assemblies. However, pupils’ cultural awareness has not been sufficiently developed given the rich range of cultures represented in the school population.
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Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils 3
These are the grades for pupils’ outcomes
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Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils 3
Pupils’ achievement and the extent to which they enjoy their learning Taking into account: Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory, and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms
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Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils 3
Pupils’ attainment 1 The quality of pupils’ learning and their progress The quality of learning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their progress The extent to which pupils feel safe 2 Pupils’ behaviour 2 The extent to which pupils adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which pupils contribute to the school and wider community 2 The extent to which pupils develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being Taking into account: Pupils’ attendance 1 The extent of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 3
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How effective is the provision?
Teaching is satisfactory overall. The best lessons are based on a through knowledge of pupils’ interests and skills, and in meeting individual needs. Here pupils get down to learning quickly and are engaged in activities that challenge their thinking and existing knowledge and staff continually assess pupils throughout the lesson. However, sometimes the pace is laboured and tasks lack clarity. Despite a focus on writing, pupils are not always extending their writing quickly enough and expectations are not sufficiently high in all classes. There is sometimes a lack of challenge for higher attaining pupils, while the needs of the lower attaining pupils are not sufficiently identified. Target setting has improved, but teachers do not consistently refer to these in lessons or in their commentary in pupils’ books. Marking of work is beginning to be more consistent, and is of satisfactory quality. However,
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How effective is the provision?
not all staff are completely confident in assessing pupils’ work against national curriculum levels or using the data to best effect to plan their lessons. The use of assessment in measuring the effectiveness of target setting and the quality of learning have improved, but this is not consistent. Some classrooms are not as vibrant and stimulating as others. Teachers new to the school or to the profession are not always supported effectively enough or monitored sufficiently rigorously. The school is not making the most of its best teaching by sharing good practice more widely.
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How effective is the provision?
The curriculum is satisfactory. The school’s approach to teaching is different between the key stages. It is too early to assess whether the creative approach to the curriculum in Key Stage 1, where topics cover several subject areas, is effective in ensuring sufficient progression, fully utilising pupils’ existing skills and knowledge, or maximising opportunities for reinforcing literacy and numeracy skills. Pupils’ enjoyment of the curriculum has increased with additional enrichment activities, such
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How effective is the provision?
1 The grades for attainment and attendance are: 1 is high; 2 is above average; 3 is broadly average; and 4 is low Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory, and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms
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How effective is the provision?
as trips out and visitors in, as well as the extended extra-curricular timetable in a very wide range of areas, such as drama, chess, sign language, guitar, steel band and sports.
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How effective is the provision?
The effectiveness of care, guidance and support are satisfactory. The school environment is safe and pupils’ understand about how to keep themselves and others safe. They know who best to approach when there is a concern. The school promotes positive behaviour effectively and pupils are responding well to this. Staff understand the procedures to follow in order to protect children and training in this respect is up to date. Transition arrangements are satisfactory.
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How effective is the provision?
These are the grades for the quality of provision The quality of teaching Taking into account: The use of assessment to support learning The extent to which the curriculum meets pupils’ needs, including, where relevant, through partnerships The effectiveness of care, guidance and support 3
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How effective are leadership and management?
Leadership at the school is only just beginning to stabilise following a period of turbulence. The senior leadership team includes representation from those staff responsible for inclusion and the Early Years Foundation Stage. The majority of the middle management roles are new and not fully embedded. Subject leaders are beginning to become better informed by taking more of a role in monitoring planning, assessment and pupils’ work. Until recently, there has been too little collective accountability for school improvement and raising standards. The acting headteacher has assessed the school accurately, and has put together a realistic school development plan with assistance from his team who are committed, hard working and have a real vision for the school. The school has been slow to address all of the necessary actions from the previous inspection, but the new leadership team have moved swiftly since being in post and have taken immediate action. Many
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How effective are leadership and management?
new initiatives have been put into place, particularly in the last term, and these are now beginning to make an impact on raising the quality of teaching and levels of achievement, but it is not yet consistent across the school. The team have yet to prioritise all of the actions identified to develop the school, and to ensure management time is spent to best effect on the things that will make the most difference. Responsibilities are currently not always equitably shared. The school ensures it meets current requirements for safeguarding pupils, promoting equality and developing community cohesion. Members of the governing body fulfil their statutory responsibilities and have an increasing presence within school. However, some of their duties are exerted without the necessary vigour or formality and they remain too reliant on information given to them by the school. The growth of the Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory, and 4 is inadequate
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How effective are leadership and management?
Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms
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How effective are leadership and management?
governing body has been hindered by not having a full team until very recently and by some complex school issues which have detracted from being able to monitor and evaluate wider aspects of the school’s work. For example, there has been no formal monitoring of the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage. The school endeavours to build on the positive relationships it has with parents and carers in Reception. It has improved communication channels with parents and carers and is seeking to improve links with them in the rest of the school, where not all are involved with their children’s education. The school understands the benefits of partnership working and is developing a wider range of professional partners to advance its work.
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How effective are leadership and management?
These are the grades for leadership and management The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement Taking into account: The leadership and management of teaching and learning The effectiveness of the governing body in challenging and supporting the school so that weaknesses are tackled decisively and statutory responsibilities met The effectiveness of the school’s engagement with parents and carers 3 The effectiveness of partnerships in promoting learning and well-being 3 The effectiveness with which the school promotes equality of opportunity and tackles discrimination The effectiveness of safeguarding procedures 3 The effectiveness with which the school promotes community cohesion 3 The effectiveness with which the school deploys resources to achieve value for money
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Early Years Foundation Stage
Featherstone Primary makes good provision for children in Reception. It ensures the welfare, learning and development requirements are met and is well led and managed by the Early Years Foundation Stage leader. The provision and outcomes for children are accurately evaluated and there is a sensible development plan. There are regular checks on the safety of the learning environment to minimise risk.
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Early Years Foundation Stage
Children enter Reception with skills and knowledge below those expected for their age, particularly in their knowledge and understanding of the world, physical and creative development. They settle quickly and make rapid progress, particularly in their personal, social and emotional development and in their speaking and listening skills. They soon learn the rules of being part of a group, the high expectations of the adults and the boundaries they are set, quickly adapting to routines and equally able to operate independently or play together. There is a very happy atmosphere in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments, although the outdoor area is still not used as fully. Since the last inspection there has been a focus on improving the Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory, and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms
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Early Years Foundation Stage
quality of the outdoor area. However, this is currently placed on hold awaiting the outcome of proposals to expand the school. The environment is changed regularly in accordance with children’s interests and developing needs. There are areas which encourage independent investigation and the balance between those activities directed by adults and those that children choose to initiate themselves is highly appropriate. By the end of the Reception Year, most boys and girls have achieved the early learning goals required of them, including their language, literacy, problem solving, reasoning and numeracy. Staff ensure that any who have not reached the required levels in all areas of learning are fully supported into Year 1. There are regular detailed observations of children that inform children’s individual records, their overall assessments and the future planning.
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Early Years Foundation Stage
These are the grades for the Early Years Foundation Stage Overall effectiveness of the Early Years Foundation Stage Taking into account: Outcomes for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage The quality of provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage The effectiveness of leadership and management of the Early Years Foundation Stage
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Views of parents and carers
A very large majority of parents and carers agree with the questionnaire statements They make positive comments about the start their child had made in Reception and their children’s enjoyment. A very small minority of parents and carers thought their child was making insufficient progress and that the school was not meeting their child’s needs. Inspectors looked at pupils’ progress, which is improving, particularly where teaching is consistently good. A very small minority of parents and carers do not believe the school addresses bad behaviour effectively. Inspectors spoke to pupils who said that behaviour is good and that new initiatives had been successful. Inspectors are confident that the school has introduced measures for dealing with unacceptable behaviour but this continues to be an area to be worked upon, along with small numbers of bullying behaviour, which the school is keen to rectify. A small
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Views of parents and carers
minority of parents and carers believe their views are not taken seriously enough, but this is already something that the school has identified as a priority for development and it is keen to engage with them. Some parents and carers believe the acting headteacher is already beginning to bring about positive changes, including increasing the range of after-school activities. There was an isolated comment regarding the safety of pupils, but inspectors investigated this fully and believe that the school has improved procedures for pupils’ safety and has reduced any further risks.
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Responses from parents and carers to Ofsted’s questionnaire
Ofsted invited all the registered parents and carers of pupils registered at Featherstone Primary School to complete a questionnaire about their views of the school. In the questionnaire, parents and carers were asked to record how strongly they agreed with 13 statements about the school. The inspection team received 59 completed questionnaires by the end of the on-site inspection. In total, there are 204 pupils registered at the school.
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Responses from parents and carers to Ofsted’s questionnaire
Statements Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree Total % Total % Total % Total % My child enjoys school 25 42 29 49 5 8 0 0 The school keeps my child safe 25 42 30 51 1 2 1 2 The school informs me about my child’s progress 17 29 38 64 2 3 0 0 My child is making enough progress at this school 16 27 31 53 8 14 1 2 The teaching is good at this school 21 36 29 49 3 5 4 7 The school helps me to support my child’s learning 15 25 40 68 2 3 0 0 The school helps my child to have a healthy lifestyle 20 34 39 66 0 0 0 0 The school makes sure that my child is well prepared for the future (for example changing year group, changing school, and for children who are finishing school, entering further or higher education, or entering employment) 13 22 34 58 4 7 0 0
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Responses from parents and carers to Ofsted’s questionnaire
The school meets my child’s particular needs 19 32 36 61 2 3 2 3 The school deals effectively with unacceptable behaviour 15 25 32 54 7 12 1 2 The school takes account of my suggestions and concerns 13 22 35 59 8 14 1 2
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Responses from parents and carers to Ofsted’s questionnaire
The school is led and managed effectively 23 39 27 46 2 3 1 2 Overall, I am happy with my child’s experience at this school 20 34 31 53 6 10 0 0
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Responses from parents and carers to Ofsted’s questionnaire
The table above summarises the responses that parents and carers made to each statement. The percentages indicate the proportion of parents and carers giving that response out of the total number of completed questionnaires. Where one or more parents and carers chose not to answer a particular question, the percentages will not add up to 100%.
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Grade Judgement Description
Grade 1 Outstanding These features are highly effective. An outstanding school provides exceptionally well for all its pupils’ needs. Grade 2 Good These are very positive features of a school. A school that is good is serving its pupils well. Grade 3 Satisfactory These features are of reasonable quality. A satisfactory school is providing adequately for its pupils. Grade 4 Inadequate These features are not of an acceptable standard. An inadequate school needs to make significant improvement in order to meet the needs of its pupils. Ofsted inspectors will make further visits until it improves.
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Type of school Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate
Nursery schools 43 47 10 0 Primary schools 6 46 42 6 Secondary schools 14 36 41 9 Sixth forms 15 42 41 3 Special schools 30 48 19 3 Pupil referral units 14 50 31 5 All schools 10 44 39 6
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Type of school Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate
New school inspection arrangements were introduced on 1 September 2009. This means that inspectors now make some additional judgements that were not made previously. The data in the table above are for the period 1 September 2010 to 08 April 2011 and are consistent with the latest published official statistics about maintained school inspection outcomes (see www.ofsted.gov.uk ). The sample of schools inspected during 2010/11 was not representative of all schools nationally, as weaker schools are inspected more frequently than good or outstanding schools. Percentages are rounded and do not always add exactly to 100. Sixth form figures reflect the judgements made for the overall effectiveness of the sixth form in secondary schools, special schools and pupil referral units.
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Common terminology used by inspectors
Achievement: the progress and success of a pupil in their learning, development or training.
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Common terminology used by inspectors
Attainment: the standard of the pupils’ work shown by test and examination results and in lessons.
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Common terminology used by inspectors
Capacity to improve: the proven ability of the school to continue improving. Inspectors base this judgement on what the school has accomplished so far and on the quality of its systems to maintain improvement.
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Common terminology used by inspectors
Leadership and management: the contribution of all the staff with responsibilities, not just the headteacher, to identifying priorities, directing and motivating staff and running the school.
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Common terminology used by inspectors
Learning: how well pupils acquire knowledge, develop their understanding, learn and practise skills and are developing their competence as learners.
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Common terminology used by inspectors
Overall effectiveness: inspectors form a judgement on a school’s overall effectiveness based on the findings from their inspection of the school. The following judgements, in particular, influence what the overall effectiveness judgement will be. The school’s capacity for sustained improvement. Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils. The quality of teaching. The extent to which the curriculum meets pupils’ needs, including, where relevant, through partnerships. The effectiveness of care, guidance and support.
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Common terminology used by inspectors
Progress: the rate at which pupils are learning in lessons and over longer periods of time. It is often measured by comparing the pupils’ attainment at the end of a key stage with their attainment when they started.
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carers to share with their children. It describes Ofsted’s
main findings from the inspection of their school.
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Inspection of Featherstone Primary School, Birmingham, B23 6PR
Thank you for the welcome you gave to the inspection team when we visited your school recently. It was lovely to speak with so many of you during your lessons and with those pupils who met us as a group. Your views are really important to us. I am delighted to see how quickly you have settled into the Reception class this term. Your school leaders are working really hard to improve the school and to make sure you all do as well as you can. In your questionnaires you said that you did not feel that your views were listened too enough. Some of your parents or carers felt the same, so we have mentioned this to your leaders.
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Inspection of Featherstone Primary School, Birmingham, B23 6PR
These are the main things we noticed. Most of you enjoy coming to Featherstone Primary and your behaviour and attendance are improving. Those of you with special roles take these very seriously indeed. Those of you who find some things difficult are given good individual support with your reading and writing. Teaching and learning is good in the Reception class and a small number of other classes, but not in every class – so you are not all doing as well as you could. Although most of you will achieve your targets, you do not always reach the levels that you are capable or of those expected for your age. The leaders in your school have recently put in place many things to improve the school. The outdoor area for the Reception children is not as good quality as the indoor provision and children still do not go in and out completely freely.
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Inspection of Featherstone Primary School, Birmingham, B23 6PR
In order to improve even further, I have asked the school to do the following things: make sure that all of your lessons are good or even better raise standards in reading, writing and mathematics make sure that the people who lead your school develop well in their roles further develop the outdoor provision for the Reception children.
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Inspection of Featherstone Primary School, Birmingham, B23 6PR
You all can help by coming to school every day and on time, making sure you tell your teacher if the work is too easy or hard, and trying as hard as you can in lessons. Please always be kind to others and think about the consequences of your actions or words. Yours sincerely
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Inspection of Featherstone Primary School, Birmingham, B23 6PR
Jane Melbourne Her Majesty's Inspector procedures set out in the guidance 'Complaining about inspections', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 , or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .
p.15
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