Setting

Richard Rowe Headteacher Holy Trinity, Guildford, CofE Aided Junior School Addison Road Guildford GU1 3QF

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Guildford, CofE Aided Junior School

Following my visit to your school on 11 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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Guildford, CofE Aided Junior 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, and three governors to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. I also met with the headteacher and deputy headteacher of South Farnham School, a Teaching School, and had a telephone conversation with a representative of the local authority. I evaluated the school’s improvement plan. I analysed a range of documentation provided by the school, including information about pupils’ achievement, examples of teachers’ lesson plans, and records of senior leaders’ monitoring of teaching. You showed me around the school and we visited every class. I scrutinised a sample of pupils’ work.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors have acted very quickly to create an effective improvement plan. It is fully focused on the areas for improvement arising from the inspection. There are also appropriate additional actions in the plan aimed at 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 5359 Direct F 0117 315 0430 Email : christina.bannerman@tribalgroup.com improving the achievement of pupils eligible for the pupil premium, and disabled pupils and those with special educational needs. School leaders helpfully involved parents in the creation of this plan and, through a newly formed parent focus group, parents are kept informed about the progress the school is making. Governors have a clear and specific role in evaluating the impact of the actions. The school has set a range of useful targets, but those relating to pupils’ achievement need to be sharper.

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Main findings

A number of improvements are already evident. Teaching is getting better because training is focused on individual teachers’ needs. Teachers are now planning to meet the needs of all pupils more effectively. Teachers’ marking is improving and an increasing proportion of pupils are getting useful feedback about how to improve their work further. The accuracy of teachers’ assessments of pupils’ work is checked regularly. Leaders’ monitoring of teaching is now more rigorous and linked to pupils’ progress. Governors are challenging school leaders more effectively because they are scrutinising detailed information about pupils’ achievement more closely. Governors are reviewing the school’s progress very regularly. Pupils are beginning to make better progress as a result of these improvements.

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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:

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Main findings

 sharpen targets for increasing the proportions of pupils making and exceeding expected progress in English and mathematics, and reducing the gap in achievement between pupils eligible for free school meals and all other pupils.

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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 has acted swiftly and effectively. It has commissioned and funded South Farnham School to provide support for teachers and leaders. This is already having an impact, for example through sharing curriculum plans and further strengthening the way governors challenge school leaders. Effective plans are in place to broaden this support in September 2013. The local authority is monitoring the school’s progress closely.

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External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body, the Director of Children’s Services for Surrey, and the Diocese of Guildford.

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