Barton Moss Community Primary School

Barton Moss Community Primary School Inspection report

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105919 Unique Reference Number Salford Local Authority 308980 Inspection number 16 °17 June 2008 Inspection dates Jon Lovgreen Reporting inspector

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Primary Type of school Community School category 3 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 187 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Shaun Consgh Chair Ms Kelly Morgan Headteacher 22 November 2004 Date of previous school inspection Trippier Road School address Peel Green Eccles Manchester Lancashire M30 7PT 0161 9211840 Telephone number 0161 7070535 Fax number

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3-11 Age group 16 °17 June 2008 Inspection dates 308980 Inspection number .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied.

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is a smaller than average school. The catchment includes some areas of high social deprivation. The proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is over three times the national average. The number of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities has risen markedly and is now higher than average. The great majority of pupils are from White British heritage. The number of pupils at the school is stable, but rehousing sees an unusually large number of pupils joining or leaving during the school year. In the past 18 months the school has had a high proportion of staff absence through maternity leave. The school has gained the Activemark, Quality Mark and Healthy Schools awards.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 11 Inspection Report: Barton Moss Community Primary School, 16 °17 June 2008

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Grade: 3

Barton Moss Community Primary School is a satisfactory and improving school. Some aspects of its work are already good, justifying the good reputation it has in the local community. Parents feel 'warmly welcomed and listened to'. It is a very caring school so that pupils feel safe, confident and become keen to learn. Children get off to a good start in the Foundation Stage. Pupils make satisfactory progress throughout the rest of the school. The results of the national tests and assessments show that, although standards by the end of Year 6 are below the national average, overall, they are rising. The school recognises the need to improve pupils' reading skills and has been largely successful in doing so. The focus on helping pupils to improve the standard of their written work is beginning to have an impact, but some inconsistent marking is contributing to this not happening as quickly as it could. National test and school data show

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Grade: 3

pupils did less well in English than in mathematics, where they made very good progress to reach broadly average standards. The same tests showed science results to be too low. Teaching and learning are satisfactory, with an increasing proportion of good lessons. Teachers have improved their lesson planning and make better use of information about pupils' attainment to set them appropriate work. Throughout the school pupils behave well because teachers manage them with patience and good humour, whilst making clear what is expected of them. The organisation of pupils into ability groups and effective support from teaching assistants both contribute to the positive atmosphere in classrooms. The newly introduced curriculum is effective. Pupils are keenly interested in the themes they are following and have a growing awareness of how to apply the skills they are learning to a range of subjects. Some pupils, usually boys, make slower progress

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Grade: 3

because they are not, for example, being taught the importance of listening closely to ideas shared in class discussion. Families know and appreciate just how well cared for pupils are. Relationships are good because adults in the school are good role models for pupils of how to get on with people and be tolerant. The school is very successful in teaching pupils the importance of courtesy and consideration for others. The result is a school which is a pleasure to be in, whether as teacher, pupil, parent or visitor. Attendance is satisfactory, improving and is now very close to the national average. This is a school that is well aware of its strengths and weaknesses, and does not make excuses for things that are below par. Staffing absence of key leaders and managers during the past 18 months has resulted in satisfactory leadership and management overall. However, strong yet sensitive leadership by the headteacher, and the governing body's active commitment to

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Grade: 3

improvement, have been key factors in the school's progress. Staff are following this lead with enthusiasm. Teachers are involved in and consulted about improvement planning. There has been satisfactory improvement since the last inspection and standards are showing a rising trend in both key stages. Value for money is satisfactory. There has been good investment in resources such as information and communication technology (ICT) and increased staffing, and the budget has been well managed and monitored. The school has a satisfactory capacity to improve.

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Grade: 2

Children enter the Nursery with skills that are well below those expected nationally. Many have poor speaking and listening skills and lack independence and social awareness. They make good 4 of 11 Inspection Report: Barton Moss Community Primary School, 16 °17 June 2008 progress because of good teaching, an effective curriculum and a good level of care. Teachers plan lessons that enable children to experience a wide range of activities. These promote their good progress, sometimes in adult-led groups and sometimes by allowing children to choose activities for themselves. The Foundation Stage is led well. Senior managers keep a watchful eye on the quality of provision, fostering and making good use of the expertise and willingness of staff. The school is beginning to measure more accurately the attainment and skills of children on entry, but this is not built on fully in providing a clear picture of progress at different stages.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that boys make quicker progress.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Raise standards in writing across the school and in science at Key Stage 2.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Be more precise in assessing and analysing pupils' skills and abilities in the Foundation Stage.

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What the school should do to improve further

A small proportion of schools whose overall effectiveness is judged satisfactory but which have areas of underperformance will receive a monitoring visit by an Ofsted inspector before their next section 5 inspection.

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Grade: 3

Pupils enter Year 1 with standards that are below the national average. They make satisfactory progress as they move through school and by the end of Year 6, reach overall standards that remain below average. Standards in Key Stage 1 have been on a rising trend since the time of the previous inspection. Indeed, standards in 2006 were broadly average. Last year, however, some shortcomings in the quality of teaching caused overall standards to once again fall to below average. In Key Stage 2, test results have also gradually improved over time. Standards in mathematics are a strength in the school and were close to the national average in 2007. Standards in English have been erratic because pupils' writing abilities are too variable. The results in 2007 were well below average, but represented satisfactory achievement by the pupils concerned. In science, results in the end of Key Stage 2 tests are too low.

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Grade: 2

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. This is reflected in their good behaviour in lessons and in the playground. Pupils show interest in their lessons and say that there are very few occasions when these are disrupted by poor behaviour. Lunchtimes are orderly and harmonious providing opportunities for lots of healthy outside play activity. Pupils really do enjoy school and parents confirm this. The school has worked hard to improve attendance and has also successfully reduced the number of pupils who are persistently absent. Pupils understand how to lead healthy lifestyles and avoid unnecessary risks. They willingly take on responsibility. Members of the school council are proud of the way in which they help to improve the school environment. They take on jobs within the council and manage a small budget. 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Barton Moss Community Primary School, 16 °17 June 2008

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are satisfactory. Most pupils generally enjoy lessons and are attentive in them. This is because teachers plan interesting work and present ideas with enthusiasm. This encourages pupils to behave well in the classroom. However, some pupils work too slowly because they rely heavily on adult support and lack the confidence to work independently. Most teachers use class discussion well so that pupils are increasingly confident to answer questions in class. However, listening skills are less well taught so that some pupils do not learn enough from opportunities to share ideas with each other. Some, more often boys, lose concentration as a result. Teachers are careful at times in marking pupils' work, but the quality of marking is not consistent across all subjects.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum provides well for the majority of pupils. An emphasis on frequent extended writing has resulted in pupils being more willing and able to write at length. A focus on reading across the school has seen a rise in overall standards. The adoption of the International Primary Curriculum is helping pupils to see links and themes in their learning and to explore alternative ways of researching and presenting ideas. Specialist French teaching in Years 3 to 6 and themed days, for instance, those for healthy eating and Chinese New Year, widen pupils' awareness and appreciation of attitudes and cultures beyond their own. Pupils enjoy the good range of out-of-class visits, visiting speakers in school and clubs that the school offers to enrich their experience.

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Grade: 2

The school knows its pupils and families well and offers a very good level of pastoral care. This ensures that pupils feel safe and well supported. The school is well aware of how best to help pupils who are having difficulty with learning. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make satisfactory progress because of the effective support they get in class and when working in small groups. Pupils get good guidance and advice on how to stay safe and healthy. The school assesses how well pupils are doing and where pupils may not be doing as well as they could. These results are used to set targets for pupils' further improvement. Pupils understand their targets, and that achieving them will give them the skills and confidence to go further.

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Grade: 3

Whilst leaders and managers have introduced many effective strategies for improvement, the unusually high number of key staff who have had long-term leave has diluted the impact of these recently. The situation is now stabilised, and there is renewed energy and determination to improve pupils' standards and achievement. The headteacher, ably assisted by senior staff, has been very influential in creating a culture in which pupils are valued and cherished. All staff share rising expectations of what pupils should achieve. Subject leaders are increasingly effective, 6 of 11 Inspection Report: Barton Moss Community Primary School, 16 °17 June 2008 and enthusiastic about the role they have in curriculum development and improvement planning. The governing body is very active and strongly committed to improving the school. Actions to tackle underachievement in science and to further improve the consistency of teaching have

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Grade: 3

started but have further to go. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: Barton Moss Community Primary School, 16 °17 June 2008 .

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Grade: 3

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: Barton Moss Community Primary School, 16 °17 June 2008

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Inspection judgements

School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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Overall effectiveness

How effective, efficient and inclusive is the provision of education, integrated care and any extended services in meeting the needs of learners? Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 2 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 3 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

3 How well do learners achieve? 3 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 3 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 How well learners enjoy their education 3 The attendance of learners 2 The behaviour of learners 2 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

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and interests of learners?

2 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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and interests of learners?

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average to below average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: Barton Moss Community Primary School, 16 °17 June 2008

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and supporting all learners?

How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education 3 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 3 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can How effectively and efficiently resources, including staff, are deployed to achieve value for money The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities Yes Do procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements? No Does this school require special measures? No Does this school require a notice to improve? 10 of 11 Inspection Report: Barton Moss Community Primary School, 16 °17 June 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Inspection of Barton Moss Community Primary School, Manchester, M30 7PT As you know, we visited your school recently to see how well you are doing. Thank you for being so helpful, polite and welcoming. We enjoyed visiting your lessons and assembly. We were very grateful for the way you were willing to talk to us about your work and how you find school life in general. Your school is giving you a satisfactory education. It is improving and some things are already good. We were impressed by your good behaviour and how well you work in lessons. You told us that your teachers plan very interesting lessons and tell you clearly how to tackle activities. Many of you said that you love coming to school because of this and because the staff are so kind and thoughtful. They look after you really well. You learn so many different things, including French, and you appreciate the clubs and many trips you get to go on. Many of you like studying

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

the new topics, which link your different subjects together. Your headteacher has worked hard to bring all this about. Staff and governors have a clear idea of what needs to improve and they are determined to make things happen. We have asked the headteacher, staff and governors to do these four things to make your school even better:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ find ways to help boys make quicker progress in lessons

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ help all of you to do better with your writing, and reach higher standards in science

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ make sure that teachers closely mark your written work in all subjects

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ for your teachers to have a clearer idea of how well children in Nursery and Reception are getting on. You can help by making sure that you come to school every day, try really hard with your work, and follow the advice teachers give you about how to improve it. Our best wishes to you and your staff for future happiness and success. 11 of 11 Inspection Report: Barton Moss Community Primary School, 16 °17 June 2008

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