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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Mrs D Spruce Headteacher Pinner Wood School Latimer Gardens Pinner HA5 3RA Dear Mrs Spruce

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social and health education (PSHE)

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of your staff and pupils, during my visit on 26 June 2012 to look at work in PSHE.

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social and health education (PSHE)

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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social and health education (PSHE)

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

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social and health education (PSHE)

The overall effectiveness of PSHE is outstanding.

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Achievement in PSHE

 Pupils’ personal and social development are outstanding. They are confident and thoughtful, readily sharing their opinions and listening to others. They respect and care for each other in a very harmonious and welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels valued for who they are. Pupils are proud of their school and take very good care of their environment.  Pupils have a very good understanding of how to stay healthy. They can explain a balanced diet and why it is important. They also make full use of the many opportunities for exercise and know how it keeps their bodies healthy. They know how to recognise stress in themselves and others, and how to get help. Pupils understand the dangers of smoking, alcohol and other drugs. They are confident in ways to resist peer-pressure and have used role play to develop their skills.  Pupils are very perceptive in their assessment of risks, both in and out of school. They have a very good understanding of how to use equipment in

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Achievement in PSHE

school safely, for example in science, and they are highly aware of dangers for themselves and others outside school, for example roads and electricity. Pupils understand the importance of personal hygiene and they also know how to use the internet safely.  Pupils have an extremely good understanding of changes to their bodies as they approach puberty. They are also very well prepared for the emotional aspects of future adult life and parenthood.  Pupils are very well equipped for the next stage of their education and adult life, through opportunities to learn how to manage their pocket money and insight into the business world, for example by running the healthy snack tuck shop for Key Stage 2 pupils.  Pupils place a very high value on their different backgrounds and the opportunities to celebrate and understand each other as individuals, for example through International Day. They have an extremely good

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Achievement in PSHE

awareness of bullying. They understand how bullying happens, why it is damaging and how deal with it.

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Quality of teaching in PSHE

The quality of teaching in PSHE is outstanding.

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Quality of teaching in PSHE

 Teachers are very confident in the subject and they plan a very good variety of activities, so pupils are actively engaged and not listening for too long. They plan different tasks so pupils of differing abilities are all suitably challenged, making sure that they all share their learning during the lesson.  Teachers are highly skilled in leading lessons which cover sensitive material. Pupils feel very safe and have the confidence to say if they are feeling uncomfortable.  Teachers make very good use of teaching assistants, who are fully involved in lessons, helping ensure that pupils of all abilities are fully challenged.  Teachers make very good use of questions to help pupils think for themselves and to see how well their pupils are doing. They use a range of assessments, which help them adapt the planning of lessons when necessary. Pupils’ progress is assessed regularly and assessment records are used very effectively to identify where pupils need extra support.

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Quality of teaching in PSHE

Pupils know how well they are doing, from feedback and reports from teachers, but they are less aware of how to improve.

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Quality of the curriculum in PSHE

The quality of the curriculum in PSHE is outstanding.

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Quality of the curriculum in PSHE

 The curriculum is creatively incorporated into all aspects of school life extremely well. Pupils’ success in PSHE is seen by staff as central to their success in other subjects. It is complemented by an excellent range of extra-curricular activities.  The curriculum is planned extremely well so that lessons build on pupils’ previous learning. It is highly responsive to local needs and the views expressed by pupils, staff, parents and carers.  The Healthy Schools Award has had a significant impact on pupils’ and parents and carers’ attitudes to healthy lifestyles. Pupils’ money management skills are developed well and they are beginning to develop their understanding of enterprise education.  Good use is made of assemblies to develop values that are central to pupils’ personal, social, moral and cultural development, including, respect, cooperation and a strong sense of identity and community.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management in PSHE

The effectiveness of leadership and management in PSHE is outstanding.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management in PSHE

 The leadership of PSHE is very well informed and there is a strongly developed vision for the subject’s impact on pupils’ learning and success at school overall. Highly successful teaching helps pupils to understand and share the vision.  The leadership is shared to include senior leaders. The process of review and development is rigorous and regular, complemented by the views of pupils, staff, parents and carers. Teachers are very well supported by training and advice.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

 developing assessment procedures to inform pupils about how they can improve.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

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

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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.

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