Setting

Mrs P Bailey Parkhead Community Primary School Park Lane Blaydon-on-Tyne Tyne and Wear NE21 6L

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Education act 2005 to Parkhead Community Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 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 Parkhead Community Primary School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in October2012. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Evidence

During the visit meetings were held with senior leaders, members of the governing body and a representative of the local authority. A range of documentation was evaluated including the school’s performance management arrangements for staff, the school improvement plan and information about pupils’ current achievements in class. The inspector was taken on a tour of the school to meet staff and pupils.

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Context

There have been no significant changes to the school’s organisation or staffing since the inspection in October

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Main findings

Senior leaders and the governing body have taken swift action to develop and then implement their plan to tackle the areas for improvement identified in the October inspection. The plan generally includes precise timescales and appropriate targets to CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566939 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: glaw@cfbt.com

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PROTECT-INSPECTION

measure the impact of the actions. There are challenging whole class targets for every year group but not specific targets and progress measures for boys or lower ability pupils; the two groups identified in the inspection report as doing less well than others.

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Actions taken are beginning to improve pupils’ progress in writing. Pupils say they now have opportunities in many subjects to develop their writing skills and think this is making a positive difference to their work in English lessons. They also say they like the better way that teachers mark their work so they know exactly how well they are doing and what they need to do to reach their targets. The curriculum has been reviewed so that topics for next term will be more interesting. Senior leaders have improved the way they check on the quality of teachers’ lessons. Performance management arrangements have been improved to make sure teachers are more accountable for the targets they have for each pupil and for the quality of their teaching. The headteacher and deputy headteacher have planned to visit a local outstanding school to see examples of outstanding teaching.

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The governing body feel that the inspection judgement was a ‘wake-up’ call. Governors have worked quickly to put in place an improved monitoring and evaluating process for reviewing the impact of the school’s improvement plans. Governors are receiving much more regular information about how well pupils are doing and the difference actions the senior team are making to the quality of teaching and to pupils progress in lessons.

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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 recommends that further action is taken to:

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■ amend the school improvement plan to include measurable targets for boys, and lower ability pupils ■ ensure weaker teachers see outstanding teaching in other schools so they can understand what outstanding teaching looks like beyond that in Parkhead ■ enable the governing body to work with an outstanding governing body to help governing body members understand what an outstanding governing body can do and what difference they can make.

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

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External support

The local authority adviser has provided good timely support. For example, ensuring senior leaders develop a clear, focused action plan, checking the quality of curriculum improvements for January 2013 and signposting the school to outstanding teaching. Further support is planned with a focus on ensuring the school will be a good school by summer 2013. The support from a mathematics consultant

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has been secured for January and further external monitoring of the quality of teaching and learning will take place in spring and summer term.

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I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Gateshead local authority and as below.

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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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