Setting

Wendy Ramshaw Headteacher St Matthew's CofE Primary School Mill Lane Normanton-on-Trent NG23 6RW

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Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 8 October 2013, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report my findings. 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

This was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in June 2013. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Primary School

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 steps to:

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Primary School

 Develop resources to support pupils’ independent learning, especially in mathematics  Develop systems for the governing body to quickly assess and monitor the impact of the new headteacher once she or he is appointed.

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Evidence

During the visit, I met with you and the school leader, members of the governing body and a group of pupils. I also telephoned a representative of the local authority to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. The school improvement plan, the school’s tracking and target setting and records of support and monitoring were evaluated. I also toured the school visiting all three classrooms, spoke with pupils and looked at some of their work. Serco Inspections Colmore Plaza 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 6799169 Direct email : mathew.mitchell@serco.com

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Context

The present headteacher has announced her intention to retire at the end of the spring term in 2014. The process of appointing a new headteacher was underway at the time of this visit, and members of the governing body were expecting to interview candidates shortly afterwards. If they are able to make an appointment, the new headteacher will start at the beginning of the summer term in 2014.

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Main findings

The improvements in teaching identified during the inspection in June have been maintained, and leaders have used links with Norwell Primary School and a wider group of schools to take advantage of training opportunities to boost teachers’ skills and knowledge. Leaders have increased the frequency of their checks on learning, with a focus so far this year on the teaching of phonics and developing marking and activities in mathematics to stretch the most able. New reading record books have been introduced and pupils are enthusiastic about using them and about the opportunity to earn merits by reading at home. Teachers have also introduced a new policy of ‘non-negotiable’ aspects of pupils’ work which will always be challenged and require correction. Pupils spoken to said that this had really helped them to improve and make fewer careless mistakes.

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Main findings

The governing body has been active, working in partnership with the governing body at Norwell, to recruit a new headteacher. They have also decided to increase to every half term, the frequency of their monitoring visits to the school. Link governors call into school to look at the learning and progress in their areas of responsibility such as literacy or numeracy.

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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 school is not regarded as ‘high risk’ by the local authority, and so does not receive a high level of support. The headteacher has made effective use, however, of the support being provided to Norwell Primary School through the Tuxford Partnership and a link Local Leader of Education, for both schools. Partnership working with schools in the Trent Valley Alliance has also enabled leaders and teachers to draw upon support and guidance from others. Although there has been some joint working between mathematics coordinators from other schools, leaders recognise that there is a need for additional support around planning and resources for effective mixed-age mathematics teaching.

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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 Nottinghamshire County Council and the Diocese of Nottingham. Yours sincerely

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