Setting

Ms Tracie Riley Acting headteacher Shelton Junior School Carlton Avenue Shelton Lock Derby DE24 9EJ

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Special measures monitoring inspection of Shelton Junior 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 confirm the inspection findings. Thank you for the help you gave during the inspection and for the time you made available to discuss the actions which have been taken since the school’s recent section 5 inspection.

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Special measures monitoring inspection of Shelton Junior School

The inspection was the first monitoring inspection since the school became subject to special measures following the inspection which took place in February 2013.

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Evidence

During this inspection, meetings were held with the acting headteacher, other members of the senior leadership team, the Chair of the Governing Body and five other members of the governing body, and two representatives of the local authority. The local authority’s statement of action and the school’s action plan were evaluated.

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Context

Since the section 5 inspection which placed the school into special measures, and in the substantive headteacher’s absence, the deputy headteacher has become the acting headteacher and special educational needs coordinator has become the acting deputy headteacher. The school has appointed a lead practitioner for literacy who Serco Inspections 20 Colmore Circus Queensway Birmingham B4 6AT T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 618 8524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T : 0121 6799163 Direct email : lewis.mackie1@serco.com will become the assistant headteacher from September. The governing body has had a new Chair and Vice Chair.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

Leadership and management are strengthening at a rapid pace. The acting headteacher has increased the capability of the team around her and is determined to make a difference. Senior leaders have responded well to input from local authority improvement officers in developing their individual roles. School staff have benefited from the partnership with a local leader in education school, so they are better informed about good classroom practice. The action taken has been closely targeted to address the points for improvement from the last school inspection. The improved use of pupils’ achievement and progress data means that staff are able to use accurate information to shape the planning for pupils’ next steps. The implementation of a new marking and presentation policy is also helping to raise expectations across the school. More recent monitoring by those who have specific areas of responsibility indicates that they are more focused on reviewing the impact

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

of support on individuals and groups of pupils, but that there is still room for greater consistency of teaching practice across year groups.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The governing body has not yet commissioned an external review of governance. However, it has appointed new governors to key roles and re-organised the committee structures. Further training is required to help them to fully understand how to monitor school improvement effectively. To date, they have made little impact on improving school performance as they are still unclear exactly how they will check on this and provide suitable challenge to school leaders. Both the school and the local authority are currently updating their action plans in the light of the changes within the school and the governing body. Timescales have been reviewed to be more realistic and the school is now making closer links with other strategic partners, including the neighbouring infant school. Everyone is committed to ensuring the school is successfully removed from special measures in the shortest possible time.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

Following the monitoring inspection the following judgements were made:

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The local authority statement of action is is fit for purpose.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The school’s action plan is fit for purpose.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The school may not appoint newly qualified teachers before the next monitoring inspection. I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State, the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Learning and Inclusion in Derby City local authority. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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