Setting

CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 618 8524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566932 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: hcarnall@cfbt.com

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Mr Adrian Ibison Headteacher Carnforth North Road Primary School North Road Carnforth Lancashire LA5 9LQ

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Primary School, Lancashire

Following my visit to your school on 21 June 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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Primary School, Lancashire

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 Deputy Headteacher, four representatives of the Governing Body including the Chair of the Standards and Effectiveness Committee and pupils to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. I also met a representative of the Local Authority. The school’s action plans, tracking data and pupils’ work were evaluated and I had a tour of the school.

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Context

There have been no significant changes to the school’s staffing structure or membership of the Governing Body, since the last Inspection. However, the school is anticipating a slight rise in the number of staff from September 2013 as a result of the establishment of single year group teaching of core subjects.

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Main findings

Since the inspection you have acted quickly to adjust the school’s actions plan and increase the effectiveness of the work of staff and governors. The plan is now in a clear format and includes appropriate objectives linked directly to the outcomes of the last inspection. The plan includes milestone targets which need to be further refined to fully enable the Governing Body to hold senior leaders to account.

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Main findings

Following the inspection, your actions have improved the quality of teaching. You and your Deputy Headteacher have carried out detailed and frequent monitoring of lesson plans and given feedback to staff which has led to better lessons being taught. Teachers have reduced the amount of time spent talking to children to introduce activities.

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Main findings

The current achievement data held by the school shows that pupil’s progress has got better and demonstrates the impact of your actions.

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Main findings

Additionally, you and your Deputy Headteacher are leading the drive to improve achievement by working with individual pupils across the school to help them improve their reading skills and attitudes to learning. The impact of this was illustrated by pupils’ responses.

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Main findings

You have introduced a more formal approach to meeting class teachers to monitor how pupils are progressing. This allows you to collect evidence that shows how pupils are improving and identify which pupils will require further help. It also allows you to hold teachers to account for the progress of pupils in their care.

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Main findings

Since the inspection you completed an audit of marking and feedback. The outcomes of this are being used to review and amend the school’s policy. This will be shared with staff and governors before the end of term and implemented from September.

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Main findings

You have engaged fully with a National Leader in Education, (NLE), from a partner school which has resulted in updated action plans and ‘position statements’ of core subjects based on improved self-evaluation.

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Main findings

Following the inspection governors took immediate action. Meetings were fundamentally remodelled to allow governors to focus on developments that will aid accelerated improvement. Governors are committed to seeking independent information about the school from which to hold the senior leaders to account

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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. The school should take further action to:  Enhance the school’s action plan by clarifying the success criteria and integrating it into one single school development plan.

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Main findings

Enhance the involvement of staff and governors in developing and evaluating outcomes of plans, actions and policies.

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Main findings

 Attend an Ofsted Seminar regarding ‘getting to good’.

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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.

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External support

The Local Authority was already providing guidance to the school prior to the inspection and the school continues to draw effectively on this support. The Local Authority has brokered the support of a National Leader in Education who has worked closely with the school. Additionally the Link Advisor has supported the school to implement action planning and provided guidance regarding the management of staff performance.

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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 Lancashire. Yours sincerely

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