Setting

PROTECT-INSPECTION

Lisa Marshall Headteacher Calmore Junior School Calmore Drive Calmore Southampton SO40 2ZZ

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Education act 2005 to Calmore Junior School

Following my visit to your school on 28 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 Calmore Junior 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, an assistant headteacher, governors and a representative of the local authority. The school strategic plan, for driving improvement, was evaluated together with leaders’ reports from their observations of lessons and scrutiny of pupils’ work. A brief tour of classrooms was undertaken, with the senior leaders, to see some of the developments introduced since the school’s inspection.

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Context

An assistant headteacher and one teacher, both of whom were on sickness leave at the time of the inspection, remain on leave. Supply teachers are covering these teachers’ classes. There have been no further changes since the last inspection. 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 3115319 Direct F 0117 3150430 Direct email :matthew.parker@tribalgroup.com

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Main findings

The school’s senior leaders and governors have responded positively to the inspection. The headteacher has focused sharply on improving teaching. Good features that should be seen in every lesson have been agreed with staff. Senior leaders have set clear expectations for teachers on how any pupils who need to make rapid progress will be supported. However, senior leaders do not give enough emphasis to how well pupils learn when they observe lessons or check pupils’ books. The school’s plan for improvement is focused on the right things and has specific targets and deadlines. Arrangements for checking that planned actions are working are not as specific. It is not always clear who will monitor the action, when and how.

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Main findings

Governors have taken appropriate steps to strengthen governance. Every governor is now linked to a subject and a programme of visits is under way. Training has been arranged to provide governors with a better understanding of the data used to check pupils’ standards and progress. The headteacher is providing governors with key information, and guidance, to help them ask more probing questions.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors have begun to take 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

 increase the emphasis on pupils’ learning when leaders check teaching, particularly any pupils who have been targeted as needing additional support  be more specific on who will monitor the school’s improvement plan, when and how  work with the local authority to enable governors to attend relevant courses.

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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 local authority is providing targeted support from the linked adviser and relevant consultants, closely aligned to the areas for improvement. Subject leaders are working alongside consultants and colleagues from other schools on relevant aspects. The local authority has appointed an experienced governor. An experienced associate governor has also been assigned. Some governors have not been able to sign up for training courses, run by the local authority, because they have been full.

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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 Hampshire and as below.

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