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 566933 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: ggleaden@cfbt.com

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Mrs Lindsay Lomas Headteacher Cliffe Hill Community Primary School Stoney Lane Lightcliffe Halifax West Yorkshire HX3 8TW

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Education act 2005 to Cliffe Hill Community Primary School, Calderdale

Following my visit to your school on 29 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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Education act 2005 to Cliffe Hill Community Primary School, Calderdale

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in February 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, senior and middle leaders, a group of pupils, governors and a representative of the local authority. The inspector scrutinised a range of documentation including: the school action plan, the tracking of pupils’ progress and records of lesson observations. In addition, the headteacher took the HMI on a tour of the school to look briefly at teaching and learning and the improvements made since the inspection.

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Context

Since the inspection in February, a deputy headteacher from a neighbouring school has joined the leadership team on secondment. The governing body are in the process of appointing a permanent deputy headteacher in the next few days. In addition, governors are planning to appoint a member of staff with responsibility for early years.

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Main findings

Following the inspection in February, senior leaders and governors have taken immediate action to improve the quality of teaching, accelerate pupils’ progress and strengthen leadership. Systems to check more effectively on teaching and learning are gathering pace. All teachers benefit from individual action plans. Senior leaders have successfully focused on pin-pointing the aspects of teaching that require improvement by mentoring and coaching teachers in developing their practice. Leaders have correctly identified that the next step is to agree the key principles of what makes effective learning for pupils in all lessons.

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Main findings

The school action plan provides a clear direction for the school and has been realigned well to match the areas identified for improvement. Clear priorities are in place to drive the school forward. Nevertheless, the targets and milestones for measuring success within the plan are not as sharp as they could be to fully inform staff and governors about how effectively the school is improving over-time.

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Main findings

Middle leaders are more focused and accountable in their work. Their ability to influence colleagues is increasing with clearer roles and responsibilities. This is strengthening their potential to impact more effectively on school improvement.

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Main findings

Increasingly, governors are more aware of what goes on in school. As a group, they understand the school’s most pressing priorities and know why the school is not yet good. They understand what is being done to improve the school and the action required.

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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

● press ahead with plans to agree key principles of effective practice in teaching and learning

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Main findings

● sharpen targets and milestones for measuring success in the school action plan.

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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 appropriate level of support to the school. This is helping to improve the quality of teaching and strengthen the capacity of leaders.

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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 Calderdale.

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