Setting

Mrs Lesley Birch Headteacher Histon and Impington Junior School The Green Histon CB24 9JA

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Junior School

Following my visit with Sue Wood, Additional Inspector, to your school on 2 October 2013, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the inspection findings.

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Junior School

The inspection was a no-notice monitoring inspection carried out in accordance with no formal designation procedures and conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. The inspection was carried out because the Chief Inspector was concerned about the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements at Histon and Impington Junior School.

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Evidence

Ofsted have reviewed one complaint which raised concerns about how effectively incidents of bullying were handled at the school. The inspection team carried out a wide range of evidence-gathering activities.

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Evidence

Inspectors scrutinised the single central record and other documents relating to safeguarding and child protection, including minutes from governing body meetings. Inspectors held meetings with you, other senior leaders, the special educational needs coordinator, personal health and social education (PSHE) leaders, teachers, and the Chair of the Governing Body. Inspectors visited lessons at different times of the school day to assess pupils’ attitudes to learning and to one another. They observed break and lunch times, the end of the school day and movements around the school, in order to assess effectiveness of the school’s policies and systems for ensuring pupils’ safety and well-being. They spoke throughout the day with individuals and groups of pupils, and a range of support staff. Inspectors took the views of parents into account. They spoke with a few parents and carers at the start Serco Inspections

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Evidence

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: 0121 679 9154 Direct email: aidan.dunne@serco.com and end of the school day and evaluated a school-based survey. There were too few responses on Parent View for these to be considered.

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Evidence

Having considered all the evidence, I am of the opinion that at this time:

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Evidence

The school’s safeguarding arrangements meet requirements.

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Context

Histon and Impington Junior School is larger than the average-sized primary school. The school serves a wide population for a village that is situated on the outskirts of Cambridge city. The school converted to academy status in December 2012. There are 352 pupils on roll. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds, with very few from other ethnic groups. A below-average number of pupils are known to be eligible for the additional government funding known as the pupil premium. The proportion of pupils supported at school action is above average and the proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below the national average.

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Context

While some leaders and teachers have taught at the school for some time, others are relatively recent appointments. A new assistant headteacher joined the school in September 2013.

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Behaviour and safety of pupils

The school’s behaviour systems are well understood by pupils and staff. They report that standards of behaviour across the school are high. Pupils are rewarded for good behaviour and they view the sanctions for any behaviour that fall below expectations to be fair. Rewards and concerns are recorded and then tracked through the pupil profiling system held by each classroom teacher. Most concerns relating to behaviour are minor; more serious incidents are extremely rare.

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Behaviour and safety of pupils

Pupils are well informed about the risks associated with social networking sites because this is regarded as a high priority within the school. Nevertheless, some older pupils told inspectors that they have a social networking account at home, despite being underage.

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Behaviour and safety of pupils

Pupils are exceptionally positive about the school. Pupils are very clear that they feel safe and that relationships with staff are strong. They say bullying is rare and that it is dealt with effectively. They understand their responsibility to help each other, and say they would turn to a trusted adult if they needed help. They are confident that any adult in school would ensure that they got any support needed; for example, from their class teacher.

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Behaviour and safety of pupils

During the inspection, the school held an assembly run by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) on Childline and how to interpret different forms of abuse. Pupils were generally well informed about the issues raised, and responded positively to the sensitive nature of the topic.

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Behaviour and safety of pupils

Attendance is high. Pupils enjoy coming to school and typically say that it is a good place to learn, reflecting their very positive attitudes to learning. The school tracks attendance carefully. Any lateness is quickly followed up with a letter to parents and carers.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Evidence gathered in this inspection fully satisfied inspectors that effective arrangements are in place for safeguarding pupils. The school was aware of the complaint made to Ofsted in July 2013 and took the complainant’s concerns very seriously. The school’s effective handling of the complaint was verified by a local authority education adviser. Evidence from pupils’ files and the school’s safeguarding and communication logs indicate regular communication between school staff at all levels and parents where necessary.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Staff are well trained and take their responsibility for ensuring pupils’ safety and well-being seriously. They are very clear about their duty to pass on all concerns about safeguarding to the designated child protection officers, who would routinely contact relevant external agencies and the local authority when necessary. Systems for ensuring the safety and well-being of all pupils are effective, and suitable adjustments are made to behaviour management procedures according to pupils’ needs and disabilities. Appropriate checks are made when new staff are appointed or volunteers used; these are recorded methodically in the school’s single central register. However, a volunteer spoken to during the inspection on what was her first day in school had not been adequately acquainted with child protection and health and safety procedures. All required safeguarding policies are in place and up to date. The minutes from governing body meetings show that governors regularly review

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

policies and monitor the effectiveness of safeguarding procedures.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Leaders and other staff are vigilant in all areas of the school, including at break and lunchtimes and at the end of the school day. Staff and pupils are confident in senior leaders and say that the school’s behaviour management systems and support for pupils is fair and consistently well led. Information is regularly shared with relevant staff through effective communication systems, notably through weekly briefing meetings.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

The curriculum is carefully planned and PSHE is delivered in a range of ways as pupils move through the school, so they develop a secure awareness of how to stay safe. There is evidence around the school, through the use of posters and displays, to raise pupils’ awareness of bullying and keeping safe.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

The parents who spoke with inspectors echoed pupils’ views that the staff do all they can to provide a safe learning environment. They commented that staff have an open approach to sharing and discussing concerns, and work with parents and carers to address them. Governors hold open-forum meetings for parents so that they can make their views heard.

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External support

The school has well-established links with a wide range of services, agencies and professionals, and works closely with them to support the specific needs of individual pupils. The school demonstrated its willingness to work with external agencies in response to the complaint which triggered this inspection.

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Priorities for further improvement

 Ensure that all parents and carers, particularly those who are more reluctant to work with the school, are aware of the risks associated with internet use, especially social networking sites

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Priorities for further improvement

 Make sure that every person volunteering within the school has an induction pack to ensure that they are aware of the school’s procedures for dealing with child protection and health and safety matters.

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Priorities for further improvement

 Encourage parents and carers to respond to Parent View so that their views on key aspects of the school can be considered on an on-going basis.

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Priorities for further improvement

I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State for Education, the Director of Children’s Services for Cambridgeshire, and the Chair of the Governing Body. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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