Setting

Bernie Cheshire Headteacher St Luke's Catholic Primary School Church Road Trench Telford TF2 7HG

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Education act 2005 to St Luke's Catholic 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 St Luke's 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 and other senior leaders, five members of the governing body, including the Chair of Governors and a representative of the local authority and the diocesan board. The school improvement plans were evaluated.

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Context

No changes in the school’s context have taken place since the school’s section 5 inspection.

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Main findings

Although a great number of actions have been put in place since the school’s inspection, the way the headteacher and governors plan for improvement is too Serco Inspections Cedar House 21 William Street Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1LH T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk complex with actions lacking precision and focus and so it is hard to check on how well it is going.

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Main findings

Members of the governing body meet regularly to discuss the progress of pupils and the actions that need to be taken in order for the school to become good. They are aware that leaders and those teachers with extra responsibilities need further support in developing their role in checking on the work of the school.

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Main findings

The results from lesson observations and checks on work in pupils’ workbooks lack detail and teachers do not have clear enough guidance to enable them to improve. Follow-up visits are not planned to check that areas for development have been acted upon.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors are not taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the last section 5 inspection and plans are not sharply focused on rapidly bringing about improvement. The school should take immediate action to:

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Main findings

 work with the local authority in order to strengthen the skills of the leadership of the school  establish partnerships with other local schools so that teachers have regular opportunities to observe good teaching  make sure that the improvement plans clearly specify how and when governors will check on the effectiveness of the school’s actions  ensure that feedback to teachers focuses on the progress and attainment of different groups of pupils.

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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

Since the school’s inspection the local authority have nominated the school as in need of intensive support. A number of joint improvement activities have been under taken with the headteacher, including action planning and lesson observations. They have linked the school with a local leader of education in order to help the school continue improving. They have organised detailed training for the governing body. A two-day review is planned for early in the spring term.

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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 Telford and Wrekin and as below.

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