Setting

John Marshall-Grint Headteacher St Faith's CofE Primary School 25 Manor Road Horsham St Faith Norwich NR10 3LF

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Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 5 March 2015, 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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Primary School

The visit was the third monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in November 2013. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Primary 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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Primary School

 maintain the highly effective leadership of the school until a substantive headteacher is appointed.

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Evidence

During the inspection, meetings were held with the interim headteacher, other leaders, pupils the Chair of the Governing Body and a representative of the local authority to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. The school improvement plan was evaluated. 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 9156 Direct email : emma.norwood@serco.com

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Context

Since the last visit, one teacher has returned to the school. Two support staff members have left the school and two more have joined. The school will federate with two local schools in April.

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Main findings

Since the last monitoring inspection you have made sure that pupils are making good progress from their starting points. You and senior leaders have monitored the quality of teaching in all classes and given good advice which teachers and teaching assistants have taken on board. Teachers think about how well lessons have enabled pupils to learn new skills, and they use this accurate assessment to plan the next steps in learning. As a result teaching and learning are greatly improved from the last section 5 inspection.

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Main findings

Pupils really enjoy their lessons and, because of this, concentrate and try their hardest. This is evident in better quality writing because they are able to look carefully at their own work and make improvements. Also, teachers make sure they give enough time for pupils to make further improvements after their work is marked. In mathematics older pupils are able to explain why they have used a particular method to work out a problem and this approach is developing across the school.

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Main findings

You have successfully driven whole-school improvement by enabling staff to work as an effective team. Middle leaders are very clear about the amount of progress pupils make in their subjects and can illustrate their views effectively. Action plans are targeted on next steps for whole school improvement. Governors have played a much stronger role in monitoring the quality of education the school provides. As a result of frequent and focussed visits they are much better informed of how well pupils are getting on. This enables them to provide effective challenge to you and other school leaders.

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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 school has drawn well on the support offered by the local authority. The Improvement Board has made sure that the school has access to a range of good advice and development. Although the school is now federated with two other local schools, a substantive headteacher has not been appointed. The local authority is aware of this and has undertaken to make sure the school maintains its current leadership capacity until a substantive headteacher is in post. I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body, the Director of Children’s Services for Norfolk and the Diocese of Norwich.

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Her Majesty’s Inspector

The letter should be copied to the following:

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Her Majesty’s Inspector

 Chair of the Governing Body  Local authority  Director of Children’s Services for Norfolk  Diocese of Norwich

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