Setting

Sharon Nicholson Headteacher Seven Sisters Primary School South Grove London N15 5QE

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School

Following my visit to your school on Thursday, 13 December 2012, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the outcome and inspection findings. Thank you for the help you gave during the inspection and for the time you made available to discuss the actions which have been taken since the school’s most recent section 5 inspection.

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School

The inspection was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to have serious weaknesses in October 2012. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Evidence

During this inspection, meetings were held with the headteacher and members of the senior leadership team, the Chair of the Governing Body, the Chair of the Forward Planning Committee and a representative of the local authority. The local authority’s statement of action and draft support plan and the school’s self- evaluation and action plan were evaluated.

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Context

Since the school was inspected a permanent special educational needs coordinator has been appointed and has taken up her post. Appropriate checks have been carried out to ensure she is suitable and qualified to work in schools. The school is in the process of converting to academy status. 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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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The senior leadership team knows where improvement is required. It is committed to improving outcomes for pupils through ensuring that all teaching is at least good. While the school action plan is a suitable vehicle for school improvement it could be better. While some actions are clearly linked to measurable and specific results, such as improving the quality of teaching, others are neither sufficiently sharp nor easily measured. It is unclear exactly how middle leaders (those responsible for managing subjects, year groups or aspects such as assessment) are to be held to account for pupils’ progress or how their effectiveness is to be measured. The action plan should better reflect the school’s existing targets for pupils’ progress and attainment so that there is greater consistency and the governing body is better able to hold the school to account.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The headteacher and senior leadership are ambitious for the school to improve and have taken decisive action to improve the quality of teaching. They are beginning to address underperformance through working with other schools, focused professional support and formal targets to guide improvement.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The governing body provides better challenge and support. Governors were instrumental in writing the action plan and key members ensure the school is held to account for how well pupils are doing. They have a clearer understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses and a sharper focus on improving pupils’ achievement. They are committed to ensuring the quality of teaching improves through reviewing how well all staff, including the headteacher, are performing. The governing body welcomes the enhanced challenge and support provided by the local authority, including the additional support from an effective neighbouring school.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

Following the monitoring inspection the following judgements were made:

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The school’s action plan is fit for purpose.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The local authority’s statement of action and accompanying support plan is fit for purpose.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State, the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Haringey. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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