Setting

CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 1231231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566862 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: rcowley@cfbt.com

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Mr Stephen Barrand Headteacher St Jude's Catholic Primary School Wigan Worsley Mesnes Drive Worsley Mesnes Wigan Lancashire WN3 5AN

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School Wigan, Wigan

Following my visit to your school on 15 November 2013, I write on behalf of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills to report on 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 Wigan, Wigan

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

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School Wigan, Wigan

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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School Wigan, Wigan

 Revise the action plan to include measurable milestones that allow the governing body to check how the plan is working during the year.

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School Wigan, Wigan

 Ensure the curriculum committee meets at points in the year which will allow it to make timely checks on pupil progress and evaluate how well the school is doing.

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Evidence

During the visit, I held meetings with you, senior leaders, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Governing Body and representatives of the local authority and Archdiocese of Liverpool to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. The school’s action plan was evaluated and other documents relating to school improvement were checked. We visited lessons to look at some of the changes implemented since the inspection.

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Context

Since the inspection, an additional member of staff has been appointed to support the delivery of PE and to deliver afterschool sports coaching.

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Main findings

The Headteacher and Governors have accepted the judgements from the last inspection and have taken prompt action to address the areas for improvement. The school’s action plan builds upon the work started last year and addresses the areas for improvement identified in the last inspection. It contains long term targets but milestones are not measurable so that senior leaders can assess and make regular checks on progress.

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Main findings

You are working hard to improve teaching and provide continuity and consistency. For instance, action has been taken in Key Stage 1 to minimise the effect of long term absence on the quality of teaching and learning and pupil progress. The work of a Specialist Leader in Education is helping to improve the teaching of phonics and spelling, grammar and punctuation. By working together in small groups, teachers are more able to share and develop good practice in teaching. This has led to improvements in the matching of tasks to meet the learning needs of pupils, in particular the more able. Partnerships with other schools are supporting improvements in teaching and learning in English and mathematics. Teachers have visited these schools to observe good and outstanding practice. This has led to them providing increased opportunities for pupils to learn more independently. Support staff have been deployed to make best use of their skills and expertise. This is having

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Main findings

positive impact on the progress pupils make in phonics in Year 2.

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Main findings

You are being well supported by the National Leader in Education and a headteacher from a neighbouring school. Through this, leaders have reviewed and developed the way in which staff track and record pupil’s progress. The system is being used to plan appropriate support for pupils and record its impact on their learning, although this at an early stage of implementation. Senior leaders and Governors recognise the importance of using this tracking system to address underperformance, especially the more able and those in receipt of pupil premium funding.

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Main findings

The governing body acted quickly following the inspection and have recently completed the external review of governance identified in the inspection report. They set up training in the use of data to allow them check how the school is improving and hold senior leaders to account. They are also seeking other governing bodies to visit and learn from. This should be treated as a matter of priority.

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Main findings

Currently it is the curriculum committee’s responsibility for monitoring school effectiveness against the action plan. However, they do not make best use of information available from the school’s half termly pupil assessments.

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External support

The Local Authority is providing appropriate and effective support through the work of a National Leader in Education and Specialist Leader in Education. An external review of governance has been completed

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External support

The Archdiocese of Liverpool is aware of the school’s needs and is working closely with the Local Authority to target support where it is appropriate.

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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 Wigan and the Archdiocese of Liverpool and as below.

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