Setting

Mrs Wendy Todd Interim Headteacher St Peter's CofE Primary School Little Green Lane Farnham Surrey GU9 8TF

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Education act 2005 to St Peter's CofE Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 18 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 Peter's CofE 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 interim and substantive headteacher, other senior leaders, members of the governing body including the Chair, and representative of the local authority. The school improvement plan was evaluated. A range of documentation was also reviewed.

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Context

A substantive headteacher has been appointed to take up post in January 2013. Two new parent governors have been appointed. The school is expanding from a single form of entry to two form entry. As a result of this expansion the school continues to undergo extensive building work that is due to be complete in March 2013. There have been no other significant changes since the recent inspection which judged the school to require improvement. 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 3115319 Direct F 0117 3150430 Direct email :matthew.parker@tribalgroup.com

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Main findings

The school is in a transitional phase with a relatively new senior leadership team. Changes have also been made to the allocation of subject responsibilities to better match teachers’ skills. A range of training has been planned for the spring term 2013, which will support the new headteacher in carrying out her role effectively.

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Main findings

The school development plan addresses the main areas that need improvement. However, senior leaders recognise the school development plan needs to be underpinned by detailed action plans for improving literacy and numeracy particularly at Key Stage 1. These action plans should include appropriate actions, timescales and evaluation procedures that detail how senior leaders and the governing body will check that the school’s actions are making a difference to pupils’ learning and the quality of teaching. Senior leaders are aware that provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage, particularly the teaching of phonics, is weak.

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Main findings

Senior leaders are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. 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. Nevertheless, governors are not rigorously evaluating the impact of the school’s actions. Following the visit to the school, HMI recommends that urgent action is taken to undertake a review of the governing body and action plans developed to:

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Main findings

 improve achievement in numeracy and literacy particularly at Key Stage 1  improve provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage, particularly for the teaching of phonics  strengthen the role of the governing body.

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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 advisor and the interim headteacher have worked in partnership to coordinate a range of useful support for staff. For example, English and mathematics consultants are working alongside newly and recently qualified teachers with the aim of helping to improve the quality of teaching. There is further scope for the local authority to provide training for the governing body.

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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 Surrey.

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