Setting

Ms Sian Smith Headteacher Mason Moor Primary School Helvellyn Road Millbrook Southampton Hampshire SO16 4AS

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Education act 2005 to Mason Moor Primary School

Following my visit to your school on Monday 17 December 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 Mason Moor 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, other senior leaders, members of the governing body, a representative of the local authority and the school improvement partner. The school improvement plan was evaluated and the latest pupil progress information was discussed. The HMI accompanied the headteacher on a tour of the school to look at the learning environment and discuss the school’s strengths and improvement priorities.

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Context

There have been no major changes to leadership and structures in the school 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 311 5307 Direct F 0117 315 0430 Direct email : emma.thomson@ tribalgroup.com

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Main findings

The headteacher and senior team have appropriate plans to move the school forward. Work to enrich reading in the school has been undertaken and opportunities for pupils to improve their speaking and listening skills further are developing. There has been some success in improving writing skills, reading and mathematics. A high priority is the focus on more pupils achieving level 5 or more by the end of Year 6. The school’s development planning shows an appropriate focus on improving teaching but the individual needs of teachers are not detailed enough. High expectations are being set of staff and pupils.

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Main findings

The school has systems in place to track pupils’ progress effectively. It is also aware of the need to increase the analysis of progress tracking information to help leaders and teachers assess their impact with more precision.

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Main findings

The school leaders and governors are aware of urgency to move the school forward. Governors are looking at how they can be more challenging in order to promote school improvement and support the hard work of the school staff.

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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

 refine the plans for how the school will support individual members of staff to have even greater impact on pupils’ achievement.

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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 light touch support for the school and is able to arrange further support to meet specific development needs. The local authority plans to monitor the school more regularly now. External monitoring needs to ensure there is an appropriate balance between developing teaching and checking progress of the key priorities.

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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 Southampton.

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