Setting

Mrs Joanne Mallinson Miss Rebecca Bliss Assistant Headteachers Ramsden Primary School High Road Carlton-in-Lindrick S81 9DY

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School

Following my visit to your school on 16 December 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 October 2013. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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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 action to:

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School

 remove activities in the school improvement plan that are routine and not associated with the priorities necessary to get to good  sharpen up some of the success criteria in the improvement plan so that it is easier for governors and leaders to measure success accurately.

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Evidence

During the visit, meetings were held with you, members of the governing body and a representative of the local authority to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. The school improvement plan was evaluated. Assessment information 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 679 9166 Direct email : helen.johnson@serco.com was scrutinised. I visited classes in Key Stage 2 to observe the teaching and learning.

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Context

The headteacher will be leaving the school at the end of this term. Currently, the headteacher is not working in school. The assistant headteachers are leading the school until a replacement for the headteacher is recruited. Governors have embarked on a recruitment campaign for a new headteacher. A Local Leader for Education (LLE) from a nearby high-performing school has just been appointed to support school improvement.

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Main findings

The assistant headteachers have made a promising start to their leadership of the school. They have already led training on strengthening the teaching and challenge for more-able pupils in Key Stage 2 which is acted upon. The good practice that already exists in Key Stage 2 is shared effectively. The importance of reading is being promoted well. For example, the pupils are very enthusiastic about being able to take home electronic reading devices which the school knows is increasing the amount of time pupils spend reading for pleasure. Cultural development is also being promoted better both within lessons and by organising extra visits and visitors that broaden pupils’ understanding.

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Main findings

Assessment information is used accurately to check the progress of pupils and to challenge teachers at pupil progress meetings. The school improvement plan covers all the necessary priorities, but it is too long because it includes some activities that are the routine responsibility of staff or that are not currently a priority to getting Key Stage 2 teaching to good. Some of the success criteria are not sharp enough so it is difficult for governors to check the success of school improvement work.

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Main findings

Following the last inspection governors formulated an action plan to ensure that they keep a careful check on school improvement. They are embarking on regular visits and taking advantage of training which is increasing their effectiveness when supporting and challenging the assistant headteachers.

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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 put in place an appropriate level of support for the school leaders at this time of change and is providing the necessary expert advice to ensure the successful leadership of the assistant headteachers. I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Nottinghamshire Local Authority.

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