Setting

Mrs Emma Hunt The St Gilbert of Sempringham Church of England Primary School, Pointon West Road Pointon Sleaford NG34 0NA

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Education act 2005 to The St Gilbert of Sempringham Church of England

Primary School, Pointon, Lincolnshire local authority.

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Education act 2005 to The St Gilbert of Sempringham Church of England

Following my visit to your school on 15 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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Education act 2005 to The St Gilbert of Sempringham Church of England

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, I met with you, representatives of the governing body, a representative of the local authority, and with the National Leader of Education and National Support School. I evaluated the school improvement plan. Also, I undertook a brief tour of the school, guided by pupils from Year 6 and discussed with them their views about the school. 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 9152 Direct email :sunny.chimber@serco.com

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Context

Two members of the teaching staff have left the school since the inspection and there have been several changes in the membership of the governing body.

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Main findings

You have worked closely with the National Leader of Education and National Support School on a range of relevant and well-conceived activities that focus on tackling the areas for improvement identified by the inspection. The pupils commented on the impact of some of the changes you have made, particular the higher standards of behaviour demanded of them and the more-challenging work they are being given. The school is, however, experiencing difficulty recruiting teaching staff to fill vacancies on a permanent basis.

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Main findings

The school improvement plan is a thorough and comprehensive document. It does not, however, set out a clear timescale for the school to become good when it is inspected next, or indicate how the current level of external support will be reduced progressively as your capacity to sustain improvements increases.

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Main findings

The changes in the governing body mean that it is, essentially, a new governing body, with significantly enhanced skills and experience. The governing body is in the earliest stages of developing new structures and ways of working, but has acted swiftly and already has a good grasp of the school’s current performance and areas for improvement.

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Main findings

You and the governors have begun to take effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. Following my visit to the school, I recommend that the following action is taken:  set a timescale for the school to become good by the next inspection  amend the school improvement plan to take account of that timescale  attend one of the Ofsted ‘Getting to good’ seminars.

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Main findings

We agreed also that it would be useful for me to visit the school again to discuss with you how the school’s capacity to sustain improvements is increasing. Ofsted will continue to monitor the school until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

The local authority has provided important support for the school by arranging the partnership with the National Leader for Education and National Support School, providing expertise in managing staffing difficulties, and facilitating the rapid appointment of skilled and experienced governors. The partnership between yourself and the National Leader of Education and National Support School is now proving productive and leading to improvements in teaching.

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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 Lincolnshire and as below.

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