Setting

Ms Debbie Wiles Headteacher Gilbert Colvin Primary School Strafford Road Ilford Essex IG5 0TL

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Education act 2005 to Gilbert Colvin Primary School

Following my visit to your school on Monday 21 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 and members of your senior leadership team 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 Gilbert Colvin 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, other senior leaders, members of the governing body and a representative of the local authority. The school improvement plan was evaluated. The inspector also met with a group of pupils and reviewed some of the school’s documentation.

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Context

There have been some changes to staffing since the section 5 inspection. Three teachers have left the school. The headteacher has made temporary appointments to these posts until July 2013. 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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Main findings

The capacity of the senior leadership team has continued to strengthen as the new deputy headteacher and assistant headteacher have settled into their roles. The pace of school improvement is increasing.

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Main findings

School leaders had already drawn up a coherent improvement plan before the section 5 inspection. This was adjusted slightly to take account of the outcomes of the inspection. The plan is very well focused and has clear targets to improve the quality of teaching and to increase the rate of pupils’ progress. The plan also states clearly who is responsible for ensuring each action takes place and indicates exactly what will have been achieved at specific points during the year.

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Main findings

Since the inspection, school leaders have improved the procedures for checking the quality of teaching. Senior staff check teachers’ planning and visit lessons regularly to observe teaching. They give teachers clear feedback and targets for improvement. Where necessary, they have put tailored support plans in place for teachers. More teaching is now consistently good.

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Main findings

Systems to assess and review pupils’ progress during the year are robust. The governing body receives clear reports from the headteacher. These enable governors to judge how well pupils are progressing and how much the quality of teaching is improving. Governors are knowledgeable about the work of the school and visit regularly to see the impact of changes for themselves.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors are taking 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

 collate the information gathered from the monitoring of teaching and learning to provide a full overview of each teacher’s strengths and areas for development  summarise information about pupils’ progress so that it is clear how many pupils in each class are making and exceeding expected progress.

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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 associate adviser from the local authority has worked closely with the headteacher to plan a coherent programme of support that complements the work that the school is doing itself. Work to develop the capacity of middle leaders is beginning to have an impact and is enabling them to contribute to the drive for further improvement. I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for the London Borough of Redbridge.

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