Setting

Valerie Ford Principal St Peter's School St Peter's Road Huntingdon PE29 7DD

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Requires improvement monitoring inspection visit under section 8 of the

Education Act 2005 to St Peter's School.

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Requires improvement monitoring inspection visit under section 8 of the

Following my visit to your academy on 8 May 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 in January 2013. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Evidence

During the visit, I held meetings with senior leaders, representatives of the governing body and a group of students. I evaluated the school action plan and other documents, including revised data on the progress students are making. A tour was made of the school to look at the quality of teaching.

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Context

There have been no significant changes since the recent inspection which judged the school to require improvement.

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Main findings

A review of governance is currently underway, conducted by an external consultant. The governing body has been restructured in order to improve communication and 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 0121 679 9165 Direct email :victoria.mortimore2@serco.com decision making processes. You and the academy leaders have produced a concise and informative tool to share data with the governing body who have also had training to increase their understanding of other sources of statistical evidence.

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Main findings

A restructure of the mathematics department has taken place and there is evidence of improvements in students’ progress in mathematics this year.

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Main findings

You have started to improve the quality of teaching. Very thorough monitoring of teaching has been taking place since the inspection and you are providing highly personalised professional development opportunities. Senior leaders do joint lesson observations with middle leaders to ensure the accuracy of all judgements. You have identified lead practitioners and are linking them with other teachers whose needs match their strengths.

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Main findings

You have adjusted your development plan in line with recommendations given at the regional seminar provided by Ofsted. It is clearly based on the points for improvement given at the last inspection. Supplementary plans for different subjects and aspects of the academy’s work are of variable quality. They need to show more clearly how governors will monitor and evaluate progress.

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Main findings

The leader of the sixth form has made changes to the way data is analysed in order to inform self-review. Work is underway to increase the accuracy of assessment in order to ensure intervention for individual students is as effective as possible. The academy was able to provide evidence of improvements in students’ progress in some subjects. Work has started on developing a common understanding of best practice in teaching in this phase.

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Main findings

You are planning changes in the identification of and support for disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs. Those who support them in class are being reorganised to increase their effectiveness.

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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 in all development plans details of how governors will contribute to monitoring and evaluating the improvement work  implement a full review of sixth form teaching.

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Main findings

Ofsted will continue to monitor the school until its next section 5 inspection, including a further monitoring visit in the next Autumn term.

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External support

A local outstanding school has supported the development of teaching across the academy and improvements in mathematics. Working with the Huntingdon Secondary Education Partnership is supporting new appointments in mathematics and literacy. The local authority is continuing to support the academy through regular keep-in-touch meetings and access to training for governors.

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External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body.

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