Setting

Mr Mark Whyman Heath Fields Primary School Field Avenue Hatton Derby DE65 5EQ

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Education act 2005 to Heath Fields Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 19 November 2012, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report on the findings of my visit. Thank you for the help you gave me and for the time you made available to discuss the actions you are taking to improve the school since the most recent section 5 inspection.

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Education act 2005 to Heath Fields Primary School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in September 2012. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Evidence

During the visit, meetings were held with the headteacher, representatives of the governing body and a representative of the local authority. The school improvement plan and plans for checking on the success of the work of the school were evaluated.

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Context

There have been no changes to the context of the school since the most recent section 5 inspection.

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Main findings

The headteacher is providing a strong steer to school improvement. Plans for school improvement identify suitable actions which are being put in place quickly. The plans don’t always show exactly what the impact of these actions will be on pupil’s Serco Inspections Cedar House 21 William Street Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1LH T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0121 683 3288 Direct email :beverley.joyner@serco.com

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PROTECT-INSPECTION

achievement or times for leaders and the governing body to check that the actions are working well.

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PROTECT-INSPECTION

Suitable training and support has been put in place for teachers and teaching assistants. Senior leaders are playing a bigger part in checking how good teaching is. They regularly observe teaching; check on pupils’ work and deliver staff training. The headteacher holds regular meetings with teachers so they can explain how they are making sure all pupils do as well as they should. There is a thorough system for checking the information about how well pupils are doing so that resources are used where they are needed most. Everyone shares the same high expectations of what pupils should achieve.

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PROTECT-INSPECTION

The governing body have taken swift action to put in place a programme of visits to school so that they can check first-hand how well improvement plans are working. Training is in place so that governors know how to make the best use of the information given to them. This information is sometimes not presented clearly enough. The governing body minutes do not always present a clear record of its work.

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PROTECT-INSPECTION

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. Following the visit to the school, HMI recommend that further action is taken to:

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PROTECT-INSPECTION

 make sure improvement plans show what the impact of improvement actions will be on pupil’s achievement and times for leaders and the governing body to check that the actions are working well  make sure information provided to the governing body and the record of the governing body’s work is clear and helpful.

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PROTECT-INSPECTION

Ofsted will continue to monitor the school until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

Support from the local authority has been effective. The local authority school improvement advisor has helped to strengthen the role of senior leaders. A teaching and learning consultant has supported the school in setting up systems for spoken and written feedback and setting targets with pupils. The school improvement advisor is working with the governing body to develop its role.

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External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Derbyshire County Council.

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