Setting

Pam Dosanjh Boxmoor Primary School Cowper Road Boxmoor Hemel Hempstead HP1 1PF

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School

Following my visit to your school on 13 June 2013, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report the findings of my visit. Thank you for the help you gave me and for the time you and your colleagues made available to discuss the actions you are taking to improve the school since the most recent section 5 inspection.

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School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in April 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 you, the consultant headteacher, your new deputy headteacher designate, other nominated staff, some members of the Governing Body, and a representative of the local authority.

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Evidence

The school improvement plan, the headteacher’s first report to the governing body since the previous inspection, and other related documents were evaluated.

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Evidence

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

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Context

The deputy headteacher and three other teachers will leave the school at the end of the summer term. A new deputy headteacher, one experienced teacher and one newly qualified teacher have been appointed for September 2013; the school is Serco Inspections Colmore Plaza 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 012 679 9165 Direct email :victoria.mortimore2@serco.com

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PROTECT-INSPECTION

seeking to make one further appointment. The chair and vice chair of the governing body announced their retirement during meetings with HMI.

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Main findings

The consultant headteacher provided by the local authority is helping senior staff and governors move forward. The level of organisation has moved improved and lesson observations are carried out on a regular basis.

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Main findings

In the two lessons visited by HMI, one science lesson was well planned and pupils made good progress, although the use of time hindered rapid progress. The pupils’ science books showed evidence of good teaching and learning. In a mathematics lesson the multiplication starter task took too long and was not clearly linked to the main task. In both lessons teaching assistants were not always actively engaged. Teaching needs to focus on the quality of learning and the progress pupils are making. HMI scrutinised the work in pupils’ books in both lessons and noted effective marking.

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Main findings

HMI spent time discussing with senior staff the actions taken to improve provision since the last inspection. Revisions to the school improvement plan show evidence of the effective support provided by the local authority. In a review of the lessons observed the views expressed by the headteacher and the deputy headteacher designate concurred with the judgements given by the inspector. Staff development needs to focus on the rapid engagement of pupils in challenging work and the effective use of teaching assistant support.

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Main findings

Staffing and leadership are in the process of significant reorganisation and it is essential that the new deputy headteacher is given time to help drive leadership and management forward, and does not become overly committed to classroom teaching.

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Main findings

A limited number of governors were available to speak with HMI and these included two governors who had just resigned. HMI asked that elections for the position of chair and vice chair of governors take place as soon as possible and set a provisional date for his return to speak to the full governing body within three weeks.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors have just begun to take effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection.

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Main findings

The school should take further action to:

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Main findings

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

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Main findings

 Use the effective support provided by the local authority to:  ensure good teaching is available in all classes,

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PROTECT-INSPECTION

 mentor the new deputy headteacher,  focus the work of the new leadership team,  and support the governing body as it reorganises.

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PROTECT-INSPECTION

Ofsted may carry out further visits and, where necessary, provide further support and challenge to the school until its next section 5 inspection. HMI will maintain regular contact with the school.

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External support

The local authority provided significant effective support whilst the school was in a category of concern. Additional support has been put in place to enhance the capacity and challenge provided by the senior leadership team.

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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.

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