Setting

Meirion Williams Coleshill Heath School Marlene Croft Chelmsley Wood Birmingham B37 7JT

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School

Following my visit to your school on 19 May, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report the 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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School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection on 13-14 February 2014. 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

 increase the opportunities pupils have to critically evaluate, and improve examples of writing during lessons,  ensure marking fully reinforces the increased emphasis given to highlighting higher quality outcomes in lessons,  involve parents more in celebrating pupils achievements and  identify succinct assessment information that can be used by the whole governing body to regularly check the progress different groups of pupils are making and that can be included in plans to aid the evaluation of improvement activity.

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Evidence

During the visit, meetings were held with you and other leaders. A meeting was held with four governors, including your Chair of Governors. A meeting was also held with 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 9146 Direct email : clare.benson@serco.com a representative of the local authority and the ‘Unity’ Partnership of North Solihull Schools. The school improvement plan, information related to the tracking of pupils’ progress, your records of your monitoring of teaching and the minutes of the governing body meetings were evaluated. Short visits were made to 10 lessons to observe teaching.

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Context

There have been no changes in staffing since the last Section 5 inspection. Two new governors have replaced several that have resigned since the section 5 inspection.

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Main findings

Throughout the school, teaching is improving because teachers are giving greater emphasis to what pupils need to do in order to produce higher quality work. Pupils are being challenged more through the recent introduction of WAGOLL (What a good one looks like) into every class room since the inspection in February. Displays often contained examples to illustrate WAGOLL but opportunities were missed to use examples taken from pupils’ work during lesson, particularly writing. It was reassuring to hear of staffs’ enthusiasm for technology that allows pupils work to be instantly reviewed and of your intention to plug this gap in the equipment you have available to support learning. Your WAGOLL strategy is not yet consistently reflected in teachers’ marking. The Early Years Foundation Stage learning environment has been improved because more thought is being given to the learning associated with free-flow play. The questions displayed near the mini-beast investigation provided

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Main findings

good evidence of the better planning that is now taking place.

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Main findings

I was accompanied by two senior members of staff on the learning walk. These leaders had an accurate view of the strengths and weaknesses in teaching. They were able to identify very clearly the improvements in the teaching which was previously deemed as ‘Requiring Improvement’. Subject and phase leaders enthused about your two senior leaders because they are setting a very good example. Subject and phase leaders are gaining in confidence because you have recently undertaken an extensive programme of joint observations of lessons with senior staff. They were able to identify further ways in which the school can be improved; for instance through the greater involvement of parents in celebrating the achievements of your pupils.

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Main findings

There is good evidence that you are regularly checking the progress the school is making in addressing all the issues identified at the section 5 inspection. However this checking could be more robust if it included carefully identified indicators related to improving the progress made by different groups of pupils. Although the scrutiny committee has good insights into the assessment information, the Governing Body as whole has correctly recognised that it needs to receive more succinct information. A useful review of governance and the management of pupil premium has just taken place. Your school is already making changes to reflect the recommendations of this review, such as replacing governors that cannot attend meetings regularly, and the adoption of more challenging targets for pupil premium pupils.

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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

Through the ‘Unity’ Partnership you are working with other local schools to accelerate the rate of improvement. This includes a strong focus on ensuring the accuracy of Year 2 assessments so Year 3 teachers have confidence in the assessment information they receive. The local authority is undertaking reviews of teaching and has established regular opportunities to hold the school to account for the progress being made. It would be helpful if further support could focus on ensuring the school appoints a headteacher who can ensure the school continues to improve now that you have indicated your intention to retire at the end of the autumn term. The local authority has agreed to keep HMI informed of the progress being made.

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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 Solihull.

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