Setting

PROTECT-INSPECTION

Mr Mark Solomon Executive Headteacher Bruton Primary School Higher Backway Bruton Somerset BA10 0DP

p.1

School

Following my visit to your school on 20 January 2014, 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.

p.1

School

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

p.1

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:

p.1

School

 clarify what the school means by ‘good’ teaching and be clear with teachers and governors about how this will be measured  provide teachers with clear guidance on what good teaching at Bruton Primary School looks like  ensure the full governing body track the progress of the school in terms of pupil progress and use this information to measure the impact and effectiveness of actions. 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 5307 Direct email : rachel.evans@tribalgroup.com

p.1

Evidence

During the visit, I met with you and the head of school to discuss the context of the school and your work since the inspection. You showed me around your school and explained your recent and planned developments. I also met with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Governing Body and a representative from the local authority. While at the school, I also considered a range of documents, including lesson observation notes, teachers’ planning, reports from the school improvement partner and the school improvement plan.

p.2

Main findings

Since the inspection, the school has carried out a thorough audit of mathematics in the school. A new approach to teaching this subject has been introduced to improve the quality of teaching and increase the rate of progress being made by pupils. School assessment and tracking data show that expectations of pupil progress have increased. This more rigorous approach to mathematics is being used to ensure that pupils make expected or higher rates of progress across all year groups. To monitor if this goal is being achieved, a detailed action plan has been developed that contains clear intended final outcomes based on improved progress for pupils. The governing body are committed to the school improvement plan and are confident that senior leaders can deliver the improvements it sets out. However, they have not yet determined how they will monitor the impact of the improvement plan on pupils’ learning in full governing body meetings. Consequently, they have not developed the

p.2

Main findings

skills to be able to hold the senior team fully to account for their impact of the improvement initiatives.

p.2

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.

p.2

External support

The local authority has provided very limited support to the school. The senior advisor I met during my visit has only been in post for one week and, although there are plans to improve the challenge and support offered to the school, these are not yet in place.

p.2

External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Somerset.

p.2