Setting

CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 1231231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566 857 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: jkinsman@cfbt.com

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Mrs Gillian Evans Headteacher Heaton St Barnabas' CofE Aided Primary School Rossefield Road Heaton Bradford West Yorkshire BD9 4DA

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Bradford

Following my visit to your school on 17 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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Bradford

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in December 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, senior leaders, an advanced skills teacher, two governors and a representative from the local authority. The school’s improvement plans and supporting documents were evaluated.

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Context

Since the previous inspection, a member of the teaching staff and the Chair of the Governing Body have resigned. Five new governors have joined the governing body.

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Main findings

Senior leaders have taken swift action in tackling the key areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection. The school’s ‘raising attainment plan’ indicates specific actions and measurable targets, notably to improve the consistency and quality of teaching, particularly in Key Stage 2, to raise achievement in mathematics and to develop further the knowledge and effectiveness of governance, particularly in light of the recent changes in personnel. Senior leaders recognise, however, that in some areas the impact of the school’s actions needs to be measured on a more regular basis.

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Main findings

Actions taken to date include the development of a monitoring system to better analyse the quality of teaching in the school and its impact on pupils’ achievement; a review of teaching in mathematics, with a focus on ‘coaching’ and improving pupils’ learning, particularly how they use their mathematical knowledge to solve real-life practical problems; the use of restorative practice strategies to tackle and improve behaviour and achievement with a targeted year group; and the further development of parental meetings and surveys to seek the views of parents more regularly.

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Main findings

Since the previous inspection, a new Chair and five new members have been appointed to the governing body. Governors have continued to support and challenge the school’s work throughout this transition. Governors have attended the ‘school specific monitoring group’ with local authority personnel to monitor the impact of the school’s actions on the key improvement areas.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors have begun to take 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

● review the ‘raising attainment plan’ to ensure that the impact of the school’s actions can be measured more regularly by all school leaders and governors.

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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 has provided effective support that is appropriately tailored to the school’s needs, notably through the work of the school improvement partner and consultant support for teaching. School leaders have also benefited from professional development opportunities and collaborative work with local partner schools.

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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 Bradford.

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