Setting

Mrs H Eversett Halberton Primary School Church Path Tiverton EX16 7AT

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Education act 2005 to Halberton Primary School, Devon

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 Halberton Primary School, Devon

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

Meetings were held with the headteacher, a middle leader, a representative of the local co-operative trust and a telephone conversation took place with a representative from the local authority. The school development plan was evaluated, and documentation about the management of teachers’ performance was discussed. Samples of the headteacher’s reports to the governing body and minutes from these meetings were reviewed. The headteacher took the HMI on a tour of the school to see the changes made to the learning environment and classrooms.

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Context

Since the previous inspection one teacher has left the school and a permanent teacher has been appointed. Tribal 1-4 Portland Square Bristol BS2 8RR T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0117 311 5373 Direct F 0117 315 0430 Direct email : jo-anne.harwood@ tribalgroup.com

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Main findings

The headteacher has begun to systematically address the areas of weakness identified in the previous inspection report. Beginning with a detailed review of the quality of teaching the headteacher has introduced systems to regularly monitor the quality of teaching and pupils’ progress. Teachers now use this information to ensure their lesson plans accurately provide for the learning needs of all pupils. The headteacher keeps the governing body well informed about the progress pupils are making towards achieving their end of year targets. A system for checking the quality of teaching and judging whether staff are meeting their targets ensures that teachers are held accountable for the progress of their pupils.

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Main findings

The school’s development plan is appropriately focused on improving teaching. However, it does not identify clearly enough the different people who will be checking on the progress being made or those who will be evaluating the impact of the work being done. The headteacher is also aware of the need to review the school’s policy on teaching and learning so that all teachers understand what is expected of them in order to secure consistency throughout the school.

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Main findings

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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Main findings

 ensure the school improvement plan clearly identifies those who will check and evaluate the progress being made in tackling the school’s weaknesses.  ensure that the school’s policy on teaching and learning makes clear the standards of performance that all teachers are expected reach.

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Main findings

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

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External support

The school draws effectively on support from a local partner school as arranged through the co-operative trust. This is enabling staff to build confidence in setting pupils’ targets, securing judgements on pupils’ standards of work and to develop their subject expertise in English and mathematics. Middle leaders have begun training to develop their leadership roles. The local authority has met with the headteacher and a national leader of education to co-ordinate external support for the school and has guided the headteacher in writing the school improvement plan.

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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 Devon. Yours sincerely

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Her Majesty’s Inspector

The letter should be copied to the following:

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Her Majesty’s Inspector

 Appropriate authority - Chair of the Governing Body/Interim Executive Board  Local authority  the academy chain where relevant  Diocese – for voluntary aided and voluntary controlled schools  The Education Funding Agency (EFA) if the school has a sixth form  The person or body responsible for appointing foundation governors if the school has a foundation  The lead inspector.

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