Setting

Tina Jarman Broom Barns Community Primary School Homestead Moat Stevenage SG1 1UE

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Education act 2005 to Broom Barns 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 Broom Barns Community 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, the deputy headteacher, subject leaders, governors and a representative of the local authority. The school improvement plans were evaluated. The inspector conducted a learning walk around each class with the headteacher.

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Context

Since the previous inspection the headteacher has returned to the school following a period of absence. The acting headteacher has returned to her substantive post of deputy headteacher. 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

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Main findings

Leaders have a clear view of the improvements needed. Two development plans have been produced following the previous inspection. These plans largely serve the same purpose and should be merged into one, simple to read single document. These plans are focused on the right areas as identified at the last inspection.

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Main findings

Subject leaders know what they need to do. They are adapting their work to focus on the areas identified in the last report. The subject leaders are working alongside leaders in a successful school and this is helping them to develop their monitoring strategies.

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Main findings

Senior leaders are supporting teachers to improve teaching. They have paired teachers up so they can provide each other with support. Leaders are supporting teachers in overcoming weaknesses. Senior leaders have a plan for monitoring the quality of teaching and learning over the next year. This plan shows how leaders are going to collect evidence to support their self-evaluation. To ensure this monitoring is sufficiently focused, it is important that they identify the purpose behind each monitoring activity.

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Main findings

Governors have reorganised their committees so they better reflect the school’s priorities. Each governor has several responsibilities and this model makes sure they can monitor and report across the full range of the school’s work.

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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

 ensure that school improvement plans are as simple as possible and do not duplicate each other  ensure that the monitoring plan specifically identifies the purpose behind each monitoring activity.

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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 is providing support and challenge. They have brokered support from a successful school. Advisors have worked alongside subject leaders and teachers and will continue to do so where necessary. The local authority has put in place a robust monitoring plan which leaves the school in no doubt about the expectation to improve. I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Hertfordshire.

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