Setting

Mrs Tina Hosford Great Waldingfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Folly Road Great Waldingfield Sudbury CO10 0RR

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Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 10 September 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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Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

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

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Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

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

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Evidence

During the inspection, meetings were held with you, two members of the Governing Body and a representative of the local authority to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. The school action plan was evaluated. You shared with me the results achieved by pupils in this year’s national tests. An opportunity to walk the school with you enabled me to see pupils at work in lessons.

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Context

Since the previous inspection, three teachers have left the school. They have been replaced by two experienced teachers, one of whom is the new deputy headteacher. The other teacher is a newly qualified teacher. Responsibilities for leading subjects 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 9158 Direct email : rachel.dayan@serco.com including English, mathematics and science have been allocated and time apportioned to staff to help them manage this work.

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Main findings

You have acted decisively to tackle weak teaching and made new appointments to strengthen provision. You are providing these staff with the support and challenge they need to establish themselves quickly and to contribute to improving the school. A programme of training for all staff is underway.

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Main findings

You show a clear understanding of the actions needed to address the areas for improvement identified in the last inspection. You have put in place a detailed action plan to secure improvements and enable the school to become at least good. These plans include clear targets and timescales to help senior leaders and governors gauge the impact of their work and monitor the rate of improvements made over time. You and your governors feel that there are no major barriers in place that limit the school’s capacity to improve quickly.

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Main findings

Results in this year’s national tests show that most pupils either met or exceeded expectations. In Key Stage 1, almost all pupils in Year 1 passed the phonics test. All pupils in Year 2 attained the expected levels in reading and mathematics, and most did so in writing. The school has adapted quickly to teaching Year 5 and 6 pupils following the recent reorganisation of schools by the local authority. The large majority of pupils in Year 6 attained the expected levels in reading, writing and mathematics. However, senior leaders acknowledge that more needs to be done to ensure that all pupils make rapid progress and a higher proportion of them exceed national expectations.

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Main findings

Governors have attended recent training and show a clearer understanding of their roles in supporting and challenging senior leaders to make the improvements needed. An external review of governance led by the local authority is planned for later this term. Safeguarding arrangements remain secure.

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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

You are working closely with the local authority to improve the school. You value the regular professional dialogue and in-school support provided by your challenge partner, and the partnerships brokered with local schools. You have maintained your links with a local National Leader of Education to advise and support you in your work.

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External support

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

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