Setting

Mrs Paula Dix Headteacher St Patrick's Catholic Primary School Whitefriars Farnborough GU14 7BW

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Education act 2005 to St Patrick's Catholic Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 18 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 St Patrick's Catholic Primary School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in November 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 and deputy headteacher, pupils, representatives of the Governing Body and a representative of the local authority. The school action plan was evaluated. A range of documentary evidence was read including pupil progress information and some of the governing body’s minutes.

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Context

Since the school was inspected, the Year 2 teacher has left, and the teacher in Year 1 is absent due to ill-health. 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 5373 Direct F 0117 315 0430 Direct email : jo-anne.harwood @tribalgroup.com

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Main findings

The headteacher, deputy head and the governing body acknowledge the outcomes of the recent section 5 inspection. The action plan is fit for purpose enabling the school to have progressed well in tackling the areas for improvement. However not all the actions identified are as clearly linked to measurable outcomes as they could be and timescales are not sufficiently broken down into regular milestones to help gauge the school’s progress. The strengths and weaknesses of the school are clearly understood by the Governing Body and senior leaders. Measures to improve the quality of teaching, particularly in Key Stage 1 and the Reception class are already underway including a significant increase in the amount of classroom observations and training. The headteacher and deputy are gathering accurate and detailed information regarding the achievement of different groups of pupils through systematic and rigorous observations of lessons alongside informative analysis of

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Main findings

achievement information. This has led to any pupils who may be underachieving being identified very quickly and additional support or refinements to teaching being promptly implemented. The governing body provides robust challenge and support holding the school to account effectively. They have clear roles and responsibilities in the checking of the school’s performance.

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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

 provide more detail regarding the timing of the different steps taken to address the areas for improvement  linking the key actions more closely to what difference they are expected to make to pupils’ learning.

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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 school is being effectively supported by the local authority. Additional support and guidance is provided through regular monitoring visits by the school’s leadership and learning partner, advisory staff for English, mathematics and Early Years. In addition, a partnership with a local outstanding Catholic primary school has been arranged to support improvements to the quality of teaching in Year 1.

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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 Hampshire County Council.

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