Setting

Stephen Crumpler Headteacher Wyke Primary School Deane Avenue Gillingham Dorset SP8 4SH

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School

Following my visit to your school on 3 July 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 May 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, other senior leaders, four members of the Governing Body and a representative of the local authority to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. The post Ofsted improvement plan and visit notes by local authority officers were evaluated.

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Context

Since the inspection, two new members of the governing body have been appointed.

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Main findings

All members of the school community spoken to articulated their deep disappointment with the outcome of the recent inspection. Nevertheless, the judgement has galvanised staff and governors in a renewed effort to become a good school rapidly. Tribal 1–4 Portland Square Bristol BS2 8RR T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0117 311 5323 Direct email :suzy.smith@tribalgroup.com A number of actions are starting to bring about improvements to teaching and the effectiveness of leaders and managers at the school. Recent checks by the headteacher of teacher’s lesson planning showed activities are now matching the different academic needs of pupils much more closely. Teachers are beginning to take greater ownership of the academic performance of pupils in their class. More challenging targets for pupils are raising teacher’s expectations and helping to accelerate pupils’ progress. Information on the quality of lessons and their impact on

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Main findings

pupils’ learning is now being collected more frequently. This is enabling a quicker intervention where pupils are at risk of falling behind. A new annual cycle of activities to check on the work of the school by the headteacher has been established. This cycle has yet to include external activities by the local authority and governors.

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Main findings

A new post Ofsted improvement plan has been drafted. There is a clear emphasis on addressing the areas for improvement identified in the recent inspection. At present it is weighted too heavily on activities to check on the work of teachers and pupils. The plan doesn’t state precisely enough what teachers and pupils need to get better at, or the strategy for bringing about these improvements.

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Main findings

The governing body keeps abreast of improvement work through detailed reports from the headteacher. A governor development plan is in production following the start of an external audit of governance. A supportive letter from governors to staff reaffirmed the trusting relationship between them and the school. A new school improvement committee, which meets every month, has been established to evaluate the success of the post Ofsted improvement plan. Governors are enthusiastic about suggestions of support to help accelerate their improvement, such as; visiting an outstanding governing body, talking to pupils about their work, and, developing a timeline from which to check on the progress of the school.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors have begun to take effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. The school should take further action to:

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Main findings

 Improve the post Ofsted improvement plan by stating precisely what it is that teachers need to improve and, what pupils need to get better at. The plan should also; include a timeline of predicted improvements to articulate the urgency and expectation to all staff of what good looks like and, allow external monitoring by the governing body and local authority  Attend an Ofsted seminar ‘Getting to Good’  Make use of the survey guidance and best practice materials available on the Ofsted website  Attend an Ofsted national conference ‘Better English and mathematics’.

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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 advisor has worked closely with the headteacher to co-ordinate a range of support for leaders and governors. This is helping the school as it addresses the areas for improvement. The external audit of the governing body is underway and developing governor’s ability to be more pro-active in their role of challenging the school. Training plans are in place for governors on the use of school data. Very recently, guidance on how to teach problem solving in mathematics has been delivered by an external consultant. The local authority advisor is aware the post Ofsted improvement plan needs to be more precise. On-going support, through more regular external evaluations of the school’s performance and additional training for English, is planned.

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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 Dorset.

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