Setting

Mrs Lynne Worden Headteacher St John Vianney Catholic Primary School Glastonbury Avenue Marton Blackpool FY1 6RD

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Education act 2005 to St John Vianney Catholic Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 30 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 St John Vianney Catholic 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 and deputy headteacher, governors, a group of pupils and a representative of the local authority (LA). The inspector evaluated a range of documentation including: the school improvement plan; the tracking of pupils’ progress and records of lesson observations. In addition, senior staff took the HMI on a tour of the school to look at the teaching in mathematics and the changes made since the last inspection.

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Context

There have been no significant changes to staff or the school’s organisation since the inspection. CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22, West Lancashire Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 618 8524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566932 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email :

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Main findings

Following the inspection in September the school has reacted positively and taken appropriate action to lay the foundations for improvements in pupils’ learning and in raising their achievement. The increased focus on mathematics and improving the progress of more-able pupils is beginning to pay greater dividends. There is a purposeful and settled air to the school with pupils excited by many of the topics and activities in lessons.

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Main findings

Systems to check more rigorously on teaching and learning are gathering pace. Senior leaders are regularly checking on the quality of lessons and pupils’ work. However, further improvements are required in pinpointing with precision the achievement of pupils and groups in lessons and in measuring the impact of teaching on pupils’ progress more accurately.

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Main findings

The school improvement plan has been reviewed in line with the recommendations for improvement from the September inspection. However, some of the targets and criteria for measuring success are not as sharp as they could be. This makes it difficult for leaders, including the governing body, to assess the impact of actions taken overtime.

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Main findings

Governors are committed to see the school move forward and are aware of actions required. They are increasing their knowledge of what goes on in school. There is still further work to be done to develop their confidence to act as a critical friend and hold senior leaders to account.

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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

 strengthen the monitoring of teaching with a clearer focus on how effectively pupils learn and make progress in lessons  sharpen the school improvement plan to include clear and measurable targets against which success can be judged.

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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 support from the LA has been well targeted and effective. On-going work to support the school in raising pupils’ achievement in mathematics, particularly for more-able pupils, is building the confidence of staff and improving provision. The LA is committed to developing the skills of leaders and managers at all levels to enable them to monitor the quality of provision and use the outcomes of this to inform strategies for further improvement. I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Blackpool.

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