Setting

Mrs Geraldine Denham-Hale Headteacher St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Marsh Road Burnham-on-Crouch Essex CM0 8LZ

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England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch

Following my visit to your school on 27 June 2014 I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report the inspection 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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England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in March 2014. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch

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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England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch

 develop clearer milestones within the improvement plan to help school leaders to establish whether sufficient progress is being made against each of the agreed actions  ensure that all members of the governing body are involved in reviewing the school’s progress  ensure that pupils’ learning in subjects other than mathematics and English is more effective.

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Evidence

During the inspection I held meetings with you and other school leaders to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. I also met with the Chair of the Governing Body, a representative of the local authority and spoke with the Deputy Director of 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 Education for Chelmsford Diocese. I evaluated the school’s improvement plan, scrutinised pupils’ work and looked at outcomes from the school’s appraisal system.

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Context

Since the previous inspection two teachers have returned from maternity leave and a newly qualified teacher has been appointed.

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Main findings

School leaders, including governors, accepted the judgement that was made at the section 5 inspection, recognising that the school is not yet good. They have acted promptly to address the issues that were identified.

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Main findings

You have created an improvement plan which lists the actions which the school needs to take in order to become good. The plan covers all of the areas that were identified as weaknesses at the previous inspection. However, it does not make sufficient reference to measurable targets relating to pupil progress and attainment. Nor is the role of governors given sufficiently high priority within the monitoring process.

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Main findings

There is evidence that changes that have been to the way in which literacy is taught have been effective and are beginning to have an impact on standards. Significant improvements have been made and are reflected in this year’s phonics check. The school’s own data indicates that standards in reading, writing and mathematics across the school are improving.

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Main findings

The changes you have made to the school’s marking policy have resulted in improvements to the way in which teachers provide feedback to pupils in writing and mathematics. Pupils are frequently provided with good advice about how to improve their work and often respond to the teachers’ comments. However the quality of marking in other subjects is not good and the lack of attention to the wider curriculum has led to poor standards of work being produced.

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Main findings

Governors are more aware of the impact of leadership and teaching on pupils’ achievement. They are aware of the link between pay and pupil outcomes and are increasingly rigorous in their appraisal of the impact of leadership on pupil outcomes. Those responsible for managing appraisal at the school now make greater reference to the impact of both leadership and teaching on pupils’ achievement.

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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 provided intensive and effective support and challenge for the school during the course of this school year.

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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 Essex and the Director of Education for the Diocese of Chelmsford.

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