Setting

Ms Sarah Jones Headteacher Flamstead Village School Trowley Hill Road Flamstead St Albans AL3 8DL

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School

Following my visit to your school on 11 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 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 14 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, members of the Governing Body, and a representative of the local authority. The headteacher’s first report to the governing body since the previous inspection, and a number of related documents were evaluated.

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Evidence

HMI invited the headteacher 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

An experienced teacher was moved from another year group to teach the mixed age Year 5/6 class at Easter 2013 following staff resignation. The school will interview for a full-time deputy headteacher later this week. A newly qualified teacher has been appointed to work in the Early Years Foundation Stage and an experienced teacher 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 01216 799164 Direct email :tim.ogbourn@serco.com to work in KS1 from September 2013. One class will be taught by part-time teachers in September.

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Main findings

HMI spent time discussing with the headteacher the actions taken to improve provision since the last inspection. Steps have been taken to improve teaching in conjunction with effective support from the local authority. The inspector observed two lessons with the headteacher and led a discussion on the quality of teaching. Good teaching was observed in one lesson which was well organised, brisk and challenging. The views expressed by the headteacher broadly concurred with the judgements given by the inspector.

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Main findings

HMI led a discussion with the governing body on the ways governors might form an accurate and independent view of the quality of teaching and the importance on meeting the criteria for a ‘good school’ as soon as possible.

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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.

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Main findings

Following the visit to the school, HMI recommend that further action is taken 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.  Use the effective support provided by the local authority to ensure good teaching is available in all classes.

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Main findings

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 contact with the school.

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External support

The local authority has provided the support of an experienced school improvement partner and are supporting the interview process for the deputy headteacher post.

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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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