Setting

Simon Barker Headteacher Glenthorne Community Primary School Glenthorne Drive Cheslyn Hay Walsall WS6 7BZ

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Education act 2005 to Glenthorne Community Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 01 February 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 Glenthorne Community Primary School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in 8 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, deputy headteacher, representatives from the governing body, a representative of the local authority and a group of pupils. The school improvement plan was evaluated. A range of documentation was reviewed, including evaluations of lesson observations, notes of pupil progress meetings and minutes from governing body meetings.

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Context

Since the last inspection, two teachers have left the school. One new teacher has been appointed on a long-term temporary contract. One existing member of the governing body has been appointed as the vice chair.

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Main findings

The school improvement plan has been rewritten. It is strongly focused on improving the quality of teaching, raising pupils’ achievement and strengthening leadership and management. The plan includes appropriate actions and a wide range of training opportunities for staff. The plan does not always have measurable success criteria. Serco Inspections Colmore Plaza 20 Colmore Circus Queensway Birmingham B4 6AT T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T :0121 679 9164 Direct email : tim.ogbourn@serco.com This makes it difficult for governors to monitor and evaluate the impact of the school’s actions.

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Main findings

The headteacher has ensured that all teachers are aware of the contribution they can make to school improvement. Class teachers, with support from the headteacher and deputy headteacher are reviewing the assessment information they have about the pupils in their class, and identifying what they can do to ensure all pupils make quicker progress. Senior leaders regularly observe staff teaching and check pupils’ work. However, when monitoring they do not always focus enough on the progress of different groups of pupils and especially those that have been identified as underachieving.

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Main findings

The governing body has a clearer understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses. Members of the ‘standards committee’ meet each half term to discuss the progress of pupils, and particularly the progress of pupils who are eligible for additional government funding. Specific governors who have been tasked to regularly evaluate aspects of the school improvement plan are not fully involved in checking the work of the school 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

 include measureable criteria in the school’s improvement plan, so that governors can effectively monitor and evaluate the work of the school  ensure that senior leaders focus on the progress of different groups of pupils, and especially those that have been identified as underachieving, when observing teachers and reviewing pupil’s work  more fully involve the members of the governing body in checking the work of the school.

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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 an effective level of support and challenge. The school’s adviser has identified what the school needs to do to become good. She regularly meets with the headteacher to discuss the actions that need to be taken to improve the school further. Senior leaders, teachers, and teaching assistants are benefiting from the support of a local leader in education and two local successful schools. Teachers and teaching assistants have observed good practice and attended training sessions. This wide range of support is having a beneficial impact on the quality of teaching and is further strengthening leadership. Training has been planned for the subject leaders for English and mathematics to help them develop their leadership roles. The local authority is planning to provide training for the governing body later this term. I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of

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