Setting

Alisdair Skinner Headteacher Wheatcroft Primary School Stanstead Road Hertford SG13 7HQ

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Requires improvement monitoring inspection visit under section 8 of the

Education act 2005 to Wheatcroft Primary School, Hertford.

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Requires improvement monitoring inspection visit under section 8 of the

Following my visit to your school on 18 April 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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Requires improvement monitoring inspection visit under section 8 of the

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection on 31 January 2013. 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, six members of the governing body, and a representative of the local authority. The school improvement plan, the headteacher’s most recent report to the governing body and a number of related documents were evaluated.

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Evidence

HMI invited the headteacher to conduct the joint observation of two lessons, during these lessons the inspector evaluated a sample of the pupils’ work and the quality of marking. HMI provided professional feedback to both teachers.

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Context

There have been no significant changes to staffing, provision, or organisation since the previous inspection. As one of the outcomes of the inspection, the governing body were required to seek an external review of governance from the National Serco Inspections 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 01216 799168 Direct email :beverley.joyner@serco.com College of School Leadership. The school has received notification that the National College does not have the capacity to provide this support in the time frame required; the college has directed the Chair of Governors to seek this support from the local authority.

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Main findings

The school action plan provides an effective overview of whole school initiatives appropriately linked to the inspection report. Evidence of improvement is emerging and milestones record the impact already secured. Summaries of these evaluations are provided in the headteacher’s report to the governing body.

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Main findings

The school is building a detailed assessment data base but does not yet present the information with sufficient clarity for governors to see the connection to the Ofsted criteria for good progress.

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Main findings

Having conducted the joint observation of two lessons with the headteacher, HMI led a discussion of the quality of teaching with the school’s senior team. The views expressed by the headteacher concurred with the judgements given by the inspector. HMI led a discussion with the governing body on the ways governors might form a more accurate and independent view of the quality of teaching and pupil progress.

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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

 Use the recently published Ofsted videos of outstanding teaching as a basis for staff development.

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Main findings

 Use the places provided on the Ofsted ‘English and Mathematics: getting to Good’ courses facilitated by HMI to improve pupil progress.

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Main findings

HMI will seek an opportunity for the headteacher to observe one of his forthcoming inspections.

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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 have provided: the support of an experienced school improvement partner, committed to providing the support of a National Leader of Governance, and a full review of provision during the summer term.

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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 Hertfordshire. Yours sincerely

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