Setting

Howard Payne Medina Primary School Medina Road Cosham Portsmouth PO6 3NH

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School

Following my visit to your school on 9 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 and the deputy headteacher who will be taking up their post in September, the leaders of English and mathematics, a representative of the local authority and the Chair of the Governing Body plus one other governor to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. The school’s post-inspection action plan was evaluated and I looked at documents used by leaders to evaluate the school’s work. I also accompanied the two key stage leaders on a walk around the school visiting a number of classrooms.

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Context

In September 2013 the school will be fully staffed with permanently appointed teachers. Three teaching assistants will be leaving the school at the end of this term 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 : Shannyn.sachse@tribalgroup.com to be replaced by three new appointments. One local authority appointed governor has joined the governing body since the previous inspection.

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Main findings

Following the previous inspection, school leaders and the local authority worked closely together to develop a well-written action plan that addresses the identified areas in need of improvement. The plan contains some practical, well-timed activities to drive improvement in the school and the headteacher has the support of staff in implementing this plan. The plan contains specific and measurable success criteria against which the impact of actions to improve teaching and pupils’ achievement can be evaluated in one year’s time. However, shorter term targets need to be set so that the improvements in the school can be evaluated more frequently.

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Main findings

The headteacher has made his expectations of good teaching clear to staff and sensible plans are in place for two local schools to provide support for improving teaching. The marking and feedback policy has been re-established with all staff and good practice clearly identified and shared. Senior leaders now need to ensure that good practice becomes firmly embedded across the school through regular and robust monitoring.

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Main findings

Appropriate steps are being taken to improve the leadership skills of subject leaders. For example, the English and mathematics leaders have been suitably involved in the development of the post inspection action plan and they will be more involved in lesson observations and scrutiny of pupils’ work next year. The impact of work to improve achievement in mathematics is evident in the invalidated Key Stage 2 test results for 2013, which indicate that current Year 6 pupils have achieved higher standards than was the case last year.

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Main findings

Governors have responded positively to the issues raised in the previous inspection report. The local authority has carried out a review of governance and suggested some sensible recommendations to improve practice. These recommendations are being implemented and the governors have good procedures in place to evaluate the impact of the post inspection action plan.

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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

 amend the post inspection action plan so that it contains shorter term targets for the improvement of teaching and pupils’ achievement, so that governors can more regularly evaluate the impact of actions being taken  ensure that good marking and feedback practice becomes firmly embedded across the school through regular and robust monitoring.

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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

A local authority adviser has provided good support for the development of the post- inspection action plan. They have also brokered support from two local schools. This support has the potential to impact positively on teaching and middle leadership. Some effective support has been provided for assessment and governance.

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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 Portsmouth.

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