Setting

Mrs Maureen Jarrett Betty Layward Primary School Chissold Road London N16 9EX

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Education act 2005 to Betty Layward Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 11 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 Betty Layward 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, other senior leaders, the Chair of the Governing Body and a representative of the local authority. Improvement plans were evaluated. The lead inspector conducted a tour of the classrooms with the headteacher.

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Context

Since the section 5 inspection a part-time teacher has been appointed to work with pupils eligible for pupil premium funding. A part-time learning support assistant was appointed in January 2013. The governing body has three new members. 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 3150430 Direct email : Jo-Anne.Harwood@ tribalgroup.com

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Main findings

Leaders and managers have not acted swiftly enough to improve matters. The local authority has formulated a plan which will act as the driver for improvement and as the tool to check the school’s progress. However this plan has yet to be finalised with the school. Some of its targets are not ambitious enough and do not state clearly what is expected for the attainment and progress of groups of pupils. Actions to improve leadership have not been identified in enough detail.

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Main findings

The Chair of the Governing Body is ambitious for the school. He understands the need for all leaders to act with more urgency to tackle the school’s weaknesses. Governors have been trained to interpret progress and attainment data and they are asking pertinent questions.

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Main findings

Teaching is regularly observed by leaders. Some of the feedback teachers receive is not as helpful as it could be because it does not specifically state what could be improved or how. Efforts to address teaching that requires improvement are at an early stage because support and guidance plans for individual teachers have yet to be implemented.

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Main findings

Some progress has been made in addressing weaknesses in writing. Staff have been trained in the school’s new approaches which include more regular opportunities for pupils to write at length.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors are not taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the last section 5 inspection and plans are not sharply focused on rapidly bringing about improvement. The school should take immediate action to:

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Main findings

 finalise comprehensive improvement plans which address all of the areas for improvement and which include ambitious targets and measureable success criteria

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Main findings

 act swiftly to implement improvement plans

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Main findings

 provide support and training and set clear expectations to improve the quality of teaching

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Main findings

A further monitoring visit will take place to assess the effectiveness of improvement plans in securing good teaching, achievement and leadership. Ofsted will continue to monitor the school until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

The local authority has offered a package of support including regular visits from a leadership and management advisor. Help from a national leader in education to improve teaching and achievement in mathematics is planned. Governors have requested further training to ensure they fulfil their role in challenging the school effectively. The local authority plans to monitor and evaluate the school’s progress through regular meetings with leaders and governors.

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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 Hackney and as below.

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