Setting

Mr Richard Lord Principal Ken Stimpson Community School Staniland Way Werrington Peterborough PE4 6JT

p.1

Community School

Following my visit to your school on 15 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.

p.1

Community School

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

p.1

Community 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

Community School

 keep a careful check on the teaching in mathematics so that the progress of students accelerates  sharpen up some of the actions in the school development plan to better reflect the specific issues in the school that need improvement.

p.1

Evidence

During the inspection, meetings were held with you, three other leaders, students and six members of the governing body, a representative of the local authority and a representative from the contractor that provides school improvement services to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. The school improvement plan was evaluated and assessment information reviewed. A number of short visits to lessons were undertaken. 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

p.1

Context

In September, 16 new teachers started at the school replacing those that had left.

p.2

Main findings

Since the previous inspection, you and the governors have been able to demonstrate your success in strengthening the teaching and achievement in English. The proportion making the expected progress is higher than seen nationally and consequently standards have risen considerably.

p.2

Main findings

This improvement in achievement has not been replicated in mathematics because teaching has not improved as quickly. Steps have been taken to remedy this and five new mathematics teachers were appointed in September. However, it is not apparent yet whether they are strengthening the teaching of mathematics.

p.2

Main findings

One challenge that school leaders are faced with when trying to improve outcomes is the many students, often whose circumstances make them vulnerable or who are new to the country, that arrive on a weekly basis. You and other leaders are demonstrating that you continue to establish and refine effective procedures and routines to enable these students to succeed. For example, you have introduced a Year 7 nurture group for those students that may find it difficult to settle into the school routine.

p.2

Main findings

While the school improvement plan covers all the main priorities, it does not make explicit enough the specific difficulties or challenges that need overcoming. For example, under the section that covers the improvement of teaching the challenge of the induction and development of 16 new teachers is not highlighted.

p.2

Main findings

The governing body is rigorous at holding you to account for improvement. Governors have an excellent grasp of the context of the school and the challenges to getting to good. They demonstrate the highest of expectations for the students and the community. Governors are rigorous in their approach to appraisal. It has been made explicit to teachers that they have to achieve their targets if they are to progress up the pay scale.

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 school has been challenged regularly by the local authority and has also begun to gain from initiatives such as school-to-school support, where headteachers work together on common areas for improvement. An external contractor has also worked with the school and been effective in supporting the improvement to teaching in English.

p.2

External support

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

p.3