Setting

CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 1231231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566934 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: gtunnicliffe@cfbt.com

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Mrs Janette Walker Headteacher Belle Vale Community Primary School Besford Road Liverpool Merseyside L25 2QF

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Education act 2005 to Belle Vale Community Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 14 January 2013, 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 Belle Vale 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, staff, parents, pupils, the Governing Body and a representative of the local authority. Each class was visited briefly in the presence of the headteacher. Documentation and pupils’ work provided by the school were examined. The school improvement/post-Ofsted action plan was evaluated.

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Context

The headteacher had only been in post for two months at the time of the section 5 inspection. There have been no further changes since then.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified during the recent section 5 inspection. The improvements in leadership and governance noted in the inspection have continued, preparing the ground well for the necessary improvements in teaching quality. Improved leadership has secured the confidence of staff, pupils and parents. Everyone agrees the school is moving forward in the right direction. Staff share the headteacher’s vision and direction for the school. Better communication has forged more effective teamwork; in particular, teaching assistants are playing a fuller part in teaching and learning. Pupils report feeling safer and believe behaviour is improving and that it is better managed. The presentation of pupils’ work is improving. Pupils are developing higher aspirations for what they can achieve and parents are pleased because their children are happier at school. They also welcome the increased

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Main findings

presence of staff in the playground and the headteacher’s willingness to listen to what they have to say. The Governing Body has had a radical overhaul, including new leadership. Parents are keener to serve as governors, prompting elections for the parent governors for the first time. Skill-wise and operationally, the Governing Body is in a stronger position to support and provide challenge for senior staff. Following the visit to the school, HMI recommend that further action is taken to:

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Main findings

reduce the volume of the actions planned in the school improvement/post-Ofsted plan for 2012-13 in order to focus more clearly on the recommendations from the recent s5 inspection.

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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

Shortcomings in the school’s performance were receiving attention from the local authority at the time of the recent s5 inspection. The authority has welcomed the invitation from the school to be more closely involved; for example, in a recent review of teaching quality. The authority is providing good support, valued by the school, tailored well to the aspects identified as areas requiring further development.

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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 Liverpool.

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