Setting

Miss Sue Carpenter Headteacher Barton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School School Lane Barton Cambridge CB23 7BD

p.1

England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 15 July 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.

p.1

England Voluntary Aided Primary School

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.

p.1

England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection.

p.1

Evidence

During the inspection, meetings were held with you, three members of the Governing Body and two representatives of the local authority to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. The school improvement plan was evaluated. You shared with me the results achieved by pupils in this year’s national tests. Walking the school with you gave me the opportunity to observe pupils in lessons.

p.1

Context

Since the recent inspection, a new headteacher has been appointed for September 2014 to replace you when you leave at the end of this term. One teacher has reduced her teaching time to two days a week, the other three days are currently 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 : 01216 799154 Direct email : aidan.dunne@serco.com taught by another teacher. A newly qualified teacher has been appointed and will join the school in September 2014.

p.1

Main findings

You have responded promptly to the issues raised in the last inspection by working alongside the new headteacher and the local authority to implement detailed plans for improvement. These plans have clear actions and timescales for improving teaching, leadership and management and for measuring the impact of actions to accelerate pupils’ learning and progress.

p.2

Main findings

Improvement plans include numerical targets for raising achievement but targets for the proportion of more-able pupils exceeding expectations for attainment and progress are not aspirational enough to ensure that they are fully challenged in lessons throughout Key Stage 2.

p.2

Main findings

Results in national tests have improved this year. A much higher percentage of Year 6 pupils attained the expected levels in the spelling, punctuation and grammar test. A higher proportion of pupils attained the expected levels in reading, writing and, to a lesser extent, mathematics compared with the previous year. Most of them made expected progress during the Key Stage but fewer pupils made more than expected progress in reading. Results also show that not all more able pupils that attained higher Level 3 at the end of Key Stage 1 went on to attain higher Level 5 at the end of Year 6. School leaders acknowledge that more needs to be done to accelerate the progress of these pupils.

p.2

Main findings

An external review of governance has taken place this term. Plans are in place to improve the work of the Governing Body. Governors understand where most of the school’s strengths and weaknesses in teaching lie and are committed to supporting the new headteacher and her staff to resolve the issues raised in the previous inspection promptly.

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 effective partnership with the local authority noted at the time of the previous inspection has been maintained. Intensive support is being provided to improve the quality of teaching, develop plans for improving the school and to monitor the quality of provision. This is valued highly by yourself and your governors. Links with other local schools have been brokered to enable teachers to observe good practice. Procedures to keep pupils safe, including the single central record, remain secure.

p.2

External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body, the Diocese and the Director of Children’s Services for Cambridgeshire. Yours sincerely

p.2