Setting

Mrs C McDonald Headteacher Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Eden Way Leeds West Yorkshire LS4 2TF

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Education Act 2005 to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 29 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 Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in October 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, senior leaders, two members of the governing body, one representative from the local authority and one representative from the diocese. The school improvement plan and supporting documents were evaluated. Short visits were made to lessons, jointly with the headteacher and the deputy headteacher.

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Context

Since the previous inspection, one member of the governing body has resigned. 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 : hcarnall@cfbt.com

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Main findings

The school’s improvement plan is clearly focused on improving the school’s performance. The plan identifies specific actions that senior leaders and school personnel are taking to tackle all the key priority areas identified at the previous inspection, including raising pupils’ achievement, improving the quality of teaching and developing leadership.

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Main findings

Senior leaders have monitored closely the quality of teaching and pupils’ achievement through formal lesson observations, short lesson visits and regular scrutiny of teachers’ and pupils’ work. Further actions have included: whole-school teacher training; specific individual teacher support; training for support staff; and a review of literacy and numeracy activities for individuals and specific pupil groups to ensure that work matches pupils’ ability and encourages independent learning. In lessons seen, pupils were fully engaged in their learning; opportunities for pupils to discuss and develop their thinking were evident in all classes.

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Main findings

The governing body has continued to support and challenge the school’s work. Governors visit the school regularly and have school-linked responsibilities. Performance management systems have been fully implemented and a full committee structure has been re-established.

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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

 review the improvement plan to ensure that the impact of the school’s actions can be regularly measured so that all school leaders, governors and staff can monitor the success of the school’s work.

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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 has provided the school with effective support that has been appropriately proportionate to the school’s improvement. This has included advice on personnel, finance and safeguarding matters. The school has also benefited from working with a local partner school.

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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 Leeds.

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