Summary
Thresher House (lead), Lea Hall Park
What we read, and from where
Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.
- Inspectorssingle source
Lea Hall Park, Thresher House
- URN verified
122597
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
Join free to get a short, plain-English summary of any report.
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- Information about the school How good the school is What the school does well What could be improved How the school has improved since its last inspection Standards Pupils’ attitudes and values Teaching and learning Other aspects of the school How well the school is led and managed Parents’ and carers’ views of the school p.5
- Most of the teaching is good or better and as a result, pupils enjoy learning and achieve very high standards in English, mathematics and science by the time they leave the school. p.6
- From the time they join the reception class children enjoy their time in school and as a result attendance is very high. p.14
- Teachers have high expectations of what pupils can do and how they should behave. p.8
- Leadership and management by the headteacher and other key staff The school is led and managed very well. p.9
Concerns
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- Teachers are not yet making sufficient use of computers to teach mathematics and science. p.6
- The areas for improvement will form the basis of the governors’ action plan. p.6
- The school has improved at a very good rate since it was last inspected in October 1997. p.7
- All of the key issues identified in that report have been tackled successfully. p.7
- Senior staff have a clear idea of their management responsibilities and leadership roles and this has enabled the school to continue to be effective in raising standards and improving the quality of teaching. p.7
- Teachers use good quality programmes of work to guide their planning and are clear about what it is they want pupils to learn. p.7
- The school’s procedures for assessing and recording what pupils know and can do have also improved and are now good. p.7
- Teachers now pitch work at the right level for pupils of different age and ability and all pupils are included fully in all learning opportunities. p.7
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 20
- Words of findings
- 5,456
- longer than usual (typical 1049)
- Reading level
- Fairly hard
- Flesch 56, typical 45
- Average sentence
- 19 words
- Next steps
- 8
- typical 5
- Hedged sentences
- 5%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
JESSE GRAY PRIMARY SCHOOL
Dates of inspection: 14 th – 15 th January 2002
p.1
JESSE GRAY PRIMARY SCHOOL
Short inspection carried out under section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996 This report may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that all extracts quoted are reproduced verbatim without adaptation and on condition that the source and date thereof are stated.
p.1
JESSE GRAY PRIMARY SCHOOL
Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the School Inspections Act 1996, the school must provide a copy of this report and/or its summary 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. Jesse Gray Primary School - 3
p.2
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
School address: Musters Road West Bridgford Nottingham Notts
p.3
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Appropriate authority: The governing body
p.3
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Name of chair of governors: Mr A Williams
p.3
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Date of previous inspection: October 1997 Jesse Gray Primary School - 4
p.3
INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM
Team members 20267 K Manning Registered inspector 12511 L Buller Lay inspector 22881 G Halliday Team inspector 31012 A Welch Team inspector
p.4
INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM
Quality in Focus Thresher House Lea Hall Park Demage Lane Lea-by-Backford CH1 6LP
p.4
INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM
Any concerns or complaints about the inspection or the report should be raised with the inspection contractor. Complaints that are not satisfactorily resolved by the contractor should be raised with OFSTED by writing to:
p.4
INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM
The Complaints Manager Inspection Quality Division
p.4
INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSPECTION TEAM
Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE Jesse Gray Primary School - 5
p.4
PART A: SUMMARY OF THE REPORT 6
Information about the school How good the school is What the school does well What could be improved How the school has improved since its last inspection Standards Pupils’ attitudes and values Teaching and learning Other aspects of the school How well the school is led and managed Parents’ and carers’ views of the school
p.5
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Jesse Gray is the largest primary school in Nottinghamshire, with 190 boys and 236 girls who are taught in 16 classes from reception to Year 6 . The school is oversubscribed but manages to keep the number of pupils in most classes below 30. Several classes include pupils of more than one age and there are more girls than boys in some year groups. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs is about the same as in most other schools. One hundred pupils are on the school’s register of special educational needs because they have learning, physical or emotional difficulties. Of these, two pupils have statements of special needs.
p.6
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The school serves the local community, which has changed little since the time of the previous inspection. It continues to be more advantaged than many areas and the proportion of pupils who are eligible for free school meals is below average. Pupils come from a wide range of social and family backgrounds. Most pupils come from British families though a significant number have Indian or Pakistani origins. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is higher than in most schools but only a very small number are at the early stages of learning to speak English.
p.6
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The school does not have a nursery, although most of the children who start in reception classes have had some form of nursery education or pre-school experience. When they start school, children’s attainments and experiences of life vary but most are familiar with books, reading and writing and have a good grasp of numbers and counting. Their physical, personal and social skills are largely typical for their age.
p.6
HOW GOOD THE SCHOOL IS
This is a very effective school. At all levels, the leadership and management of the school are very good and the headteacher, staff and governors form a strong and dedicated team. Most of the teaching is good or better and as a result, pupils enjoy learning and achieve very high standards in English, mathematics and science by the time they leave the school. The school manages this at a relatively low cost and provides good value for money.
p.6
What the school does well
• Very good teaching, throughout the school, leads to very high standards in English, mathematics and science by the end of Year 6. • The leadership and management of the school are extremely good and pave the way for continued improvement to teaching and learning. • The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and ensures that they achieve well. • Pupils are very keen to learn and rarely miss school.
p.6
What could be improved
• Teachers are not yet making sufficient use of computers to teach mathematics and science. The areas for improvement will form the basis of the governors’ action plan. Jesse Gray Primary School - 7
p.6
HOW THE SCHOOL HAS IMPROVED SINCE ITS LAST INSPECTION
The school has improved at a very good rate since it was last inspected in October 1997. All of the key issues identified in that report have been tackled successfully. Senior staff have a clear idea of their management responsibilities and leadership roles and this has enabled the school to continue to be effective in raising standards and improving the quality of teaching. Teachers use good quality programmes of work to guide their planning and are clear about what it is they want pupils to learn. The school’s procedures for assessing and recording what pupils know and can do have also improved and are now good. Teachers now pitch work at the right level for pupils of different age and ability and all pupils are included fully in all learning opportunities. Changes to the curriculum and training for teachers have ensured that standards in art and design have risen since the previous inspection and are now in line
p.7
HOW THE SCHOOL HAS IMPROVED SINCE ITS LAST INSPECTION
with what is expected for pupils’ ages by the end of Year 2 and Year 6.
p.7
STANDARDS
The table shows the standards achieved by pupils at the end of Year 6 based on average point scores in National Curriculum tests.
p.7
STANDARDS
Performance in: all schools similar schools Key
p.7
STANDARDS
English B B A A well above average above average A B Mathematics A B A B average below average C D Science A A A* A well below average E
p.7
STANDARDS
When they start school, most children have physical and social skills that are typical for their age. Their knowledge and understanding of books, writing and numbers are all above what is expected for their age. Children get a good start in the foundation stage and by the time they leave the reception classes most have achieved the early learning goals and are working towards the first levels of the National Curriculum.
p.7
STANDARDS
In three of the last four years, pupils in Year 2 have achieved well in national tests in reading, writing and mathematics. In 2001, test results fell but remained above average in reading and writing and average in science. This was as a result of more pupils in that year group having special educational needs. Inspection findings are that pupils in Years 1 and 2 are well on the way to achieving standards that are above the levels expected for their age.
p.7
STANDARDS
The results of national tests for pupils in Year 6 have been consistently high for the last four years. Standards in English and mathematics are very high and, last year, the school exceeded the targets it had set for raising standards in both subjects. In science, standards have risen in each of the last five years and pupils’ high achievements put Jesse Gray in the top five per cent of all schools. Pupils with special educational needs make good progress and often achieve the standards expected for their age. Pupils who speak English as an additional language do as well as other pupils and achieve the levels of which they are capable.
p.7
Aspect Comment
Attitudes to the school Pupils have very good attitudes towards learning and they try hard with their work.
p.8
Aspect Comment
Behaviour, in and out of classrooms Pupils behave very well in lessons and when they are out of the classroom. They have a good understanding of what is right and wrong.
p.8
Aspect Comment
Personal development and relationships The pupils’ personal development is very good. They are sensible and mature and willing to take on responsibility. The relationships between pupils and adults are very good and pupils are friendly towards one another.
p.8
Aspect Comment
Attendance Excellent. Pupils enjoy coming to school and are rarely absent.
p.8
Teaching of pupils in: Reception Years 1 – 2 Years 3 – 6
Quality of teaching Good Good Very good Inspectors make judgements about teaching in the range: excellent; very good; good; satisfactory; unsatisfactory; poor; very poor. ‘Satisfactory’ means that the teaching is adequate and strengths outweigh weaknesses.
p.8
Teaching of pupils in: Reception Years 1 – 2 Years 3 – 6
Most of the teaching is good and almost half of the lessons seen during the inspection were very good. Children get a good start to their education in the foundation stage. Good and very good teaching ensures that pupils go on to achieve well in Years 1 to 6 and it is particularly strong in Years 5 and 6.
p.8
Strengths in teaching and learning:
• The teaching of English, mathematics and science is generally very good. This is one of the key reasons why pupils achieve so well and standards in English, mathematics and science are very high by the end of Year 6. • Teachers make effective use of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies to teach English and mathematics. • All pupils get a fair deal from the school and have equal access to the curriculum and equal opportunities to learn. • Teachers have high expectations of what pupils can do and how they should behave. Consequently, pupils learn at a very good rate in many lessons. • A particular strength of the teaching is that teachers ensure that pupils with special educational needs get all the help they need to succeed. As a result, they achieve well over time. Jesse Gray Primary School - 9
p.8
Aspect Comment
The quality and range of the curriculum Good. The curriculum meets statutory requirements for pupils in Years 1 to 6 and follows the recommended guidelines for children in the foundation stage. It is enriched by a good programme for promoting pupils’ personal, health and social education and by the many first-hand experiences that make learning fun. The school ensures that all pupils have equal opportunities to learn and make progress.
p.9
Aspect Comment
Provision for pupils with special educational needs Very good. Teachers and support staff ensure that these pupils have all the help they need to achieve well. Many reach the levels expected for their age by the end of Year 6.
p.9
Aspect Comment
Provision for pupils with English as an additional language The school makes good provision for pupils who do not speak English at home. As a result they make good progress and achieve well.
p.9
Aspect Comment
Provision for pupils’ personal, including spiritual, moral, social and cultural development The school’s very good provision for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development underpins their personal development and their firm grasp of what is right and wrong. They are prepared well for life in a multicultural society.
p.9
Aspect Comment
How well the school cares for its pupils This is a caring school where staff provide very good personal support and guidance to pupils. The procedures for ensuring the health and welfare of pupils are all good and ensure that the school is a safe and welcoming place in which to learn.
p.9
Aspect Comment
Leadership and management by the headteacher and other key staff The school is led and managed very well. The headteacher and senior teachers are dynamic leaders. Everything they do is based on helping pupils achieve the best they can.
p.9
Aspect Comment
How well the governors fulfil their responsibilities Governors do a very good job for the school. They fulfil all statutory responsibilities and are closely involved in planning the school’s development and in managing its finances.
p.9
Aspect Comment
The school’s evaluation of its performance The headteacher, governors and staff have a firm understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the school and use this knowledge to continue to improve the quality of teaching and raise standards. Jesse Gray Primary School - 10
p.9
Aspect Comment
The strategic use of resources The school’s resources are used well to help all pupils reach the standards of which they are capable. Good use is made of support staff and volunteers to work with small groups and they make a significant contribution to the quality of teaching. The special grants allocated to the school are put to good use.
p.10
Aspect Comment
The school has sufficient, suitably qualified teaching and non-teaching staff. All staff are deployed well to make best use of their expertise and to provide effective support to all pupils. The school’s accommodation is adequate to teach the curriculum and is an attractive and welcoming place in which to learn.
p.10
Aspect Comment
Governors and teachers challenge how well the school is performing by making thorough comparisons of pupils’ performance in tests with local, similar and all other schools. Parents’ views about the school are sought on matters such as homework.
p.10
What pleases parents most What parents would like to see improved
• Parents are pleased that their children like school. • Parents think that the teaching is good. • They are glad that their children are expected to work hard and do their best. • Most parents feel that staff are approachable. • A number of parents feel that they do not get enough information about how their children are doing. • Some parents would like a more interesting range of activities outside lessons. • Some parents feel that their children do not get the right amount of homework.
p.10
What pleases parents most What parents would like to see improved
Inspection findings confirm parents’ very positive views of the school. Most of the teaching is good or very good and children are expected to work hard and do their best. At the start and end of each school day teachers and other staff are always available to talk with parents. Parents’ concerns are largely unfounded but the headteacher has nonetheless taken note of each comment in order to make changes where possible or necessary. Parents get detailed and useful information about events at school, the curriculum and in written reports about their children. There is a wide range of clubs and sports available to pupils, though these are mostly aimed at older pupils. Pupils in all classes are given homework regularly and it helps their learning in school. Jesse Gray Primary School - 11
p.10
Very good teaching leads to high standards in English, mathematics and science by
1 By the end of Year 6, many pupils achieve standards in English, mathematics and science that are well above average. This is the result of predominantly very good teaching in these subjects, which ensures that pupils of all abilities achieve their full potential.
p.11
Very good teaching leads to high standards in English, mathematics and science by
2 In English, standards are very high because teachers plan many opportunities for pupils to read and write and to talk and listen to adults and classmates. Throughout the school, pupils are encouraged to listen to the points of view of others when they work in small groups or take part in class discussions. Consequently, as they get older, pupils become more adept at listening closely and their responses show that they have taken account of the opinions of others. For example, after listening to a girl describe the wife of Henry VIII that she liked best as pretty one boy said that his favourite wife of Henry VIII was the one who wasn’t divorced or beheaded .
p.11
Very good teaching leads to high standards in English, mathematics and science by
3 Teachers plan daily opportunities for pupils to read and write, in literacy lessons and in other subjects. This starts in the reception class when children read big books with their teacher and write about the characters in the stories. For example, after reading the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty, children were asked to write a get-well card for Humpty or a shopping list for the soldiers. In Years 1 to 6, pupils read fiction and research information. Most pupils are expressive and fluent readers by the end of Year 6. When reading information texts they pick out the most important points and identify important features. Their reading diaries show that many read frequently at home and as they get older pupils talk animatedly about their favourite books and authors and say that they enjoy reading.
p.11
Very good teaching leads to high standards in English, mathematics and science by
4 It is a similar picture with writing; teachers provide many opportunities for pupils to write for a wide range of purposes. Pupils write stories, accounts, reports, letters, poems and reviews of the books they have read and in all of these they use a widening vocabulary as they get older. Pupils’ enjoyment of words and language is evident in the way that they choose their words for effect. For example, pupils in Year 2 often begin their stories in the traditional manner of once upon a time , while older pupils look for a more dramatic affect, such as spooky ghosts hovering in the air to grab the reader’s attention. From the reception class onwards, teachers emphasise grammar, punctuation and handwriting and this ensures that pupils’ work is accurate and well presented. Teachers use computers appropriately to teach reading and writing. They plan frequent opportunities for pupils to draft and publish their work using word processing and pupils make gains in
p.11
Very good teaching leads to high standards in English, mathematics and science by
information and communication technology at the same time as they improve their literacy skills.
p.11
Very good teaching leads to high standards in English, mathematics and science by
5 One of the reasons why standards are very high in mathematics is that throughout the school, teachers give a great deal of attention to pattern and relationship in number. The youngest pupils learn to solve mathematical problems by looking at multiples and end digits and this stands them in good stead as they get older and seek patterns in number, measurement, shape and space. For example, pupils in Year 6 used what they knew about multiples of ten to work out a strategy for multiplying by 11. Jesse Gray Primary School - 12 6 The teaching of mathematics is made more effective because of the good balance of whole-class teaching and time for pupils to practise and consolidate what they have learned. Mental mathematics sessions are punchy and fast and as a result, pupils have to stay alert if they are to keep up. This was evident in a good lesson in a Year 2 class, when pupils had to concentrate very hard as they compared two-digit numbers and
p.11
Very good teaching leads to high standards in English, mathematics and science by
decided which was greater or smaller. These sessions help pupils to recall number facts, such as multiplication tables, and are particularly effective when linked with homework. Following the mental mathematics sessions, there is generally a short time when teachers work with the whole class to introduce new concepts or move pupils on in their thinking. These times work well because teachers have a thorough knowledge of the National Numeracy Strategy and how to teach mathematics. This means that their explanations are clear and help pupils to understand about number, shape and space. Teachers are also very good at questioning pupils to find out what they know. Pupils are taught in groups of similar ability for mathematics; but even within these groups higher attaining pupils are asked more challenging questions and gentle probing often helps lower attaining pupils and those with special educational needs to move forward in their
p.12
Very good teaching leads to high standards in English, mathematics and science by
thinking. Finally, teachers ensure that pupils have time to complete their work but keep the pressure on for it to be done neatly and to a deadline. Consequently, pupils knuckle down to their work and try really hard.
p.12
Very good teaching leads to high standards in English, mathematics and science by
7 Standards are very high in science because teachers have a thorough knowledge of how to teach the subject and ensure that pupils learn through first-hand experiences such as devising, planning and carrying out their own investigations and experiments. Teachers make sure that their descriptions and explanations of scientific concepts are clear and easy to understand. In a very good lesson on materials and their properties, pupils were helped to understand the term insulator from the teacher’s simple explanations and clear step-by-step instructions of how to test a range of materials fairly. Teachers place a great deal of emphasis on investigations and experiments and this helps pupils to work things out for themselves. The work in pupils’ books shows that much of the science is of a practical nature. For example, pupils conduct experiments to find out which materials are insulators or conductors and investigate which part of a
p.12
Very good teaching leads to high standards in English, mathematics and science by
plant takes in the food it needs to grow. In addition, teachers insist that pupils write out their results in a scientific way. This helps pupils organise their thinking and their written reports and findings show that they do this in a logical and systematic way; starting with what they want to find out and what they think is likely to happen and ending with a report of what happened in their experiments.
p.12
The leadership and management of the school are extremely good and pave the way
for continued improvement to teaching and learning.
p.12
The leadership and management of the school are extremely good and pave the way
8 One of the reasons for the school’s continued success is the strong and dynamic leadership provided by the headteacher. This sets clear educational direction for the school and contributes to the quality of education provided and the very high standards achieved by pupils. Her very thorough knowledge of national and local initiatives help prepare staff well for changes that affect the curriculum. This is evident in the way that co-ordinators have planned carefully for the introduction of the foundation stage curriculum and the new Code of Practice for supporting pupils who have special educational needs. Similarly, national initiatives such as Performance Management have slipped smoothly and effectively into place because of the efforts of the head teacher and governors. This now sets the scene for continued improvements to the quality of teaching. Jesse Gray Primary School - 13 9 Since her appointment, the headteacher has led the way in monitoring the quality of
p.12
The leadership and management of the school are extremely good and pave the way
teaching. Together with subject co-ordinators, they have devised clear and rigorous procedures for observing teachers at work. This is done systematically; teachers agree a focus for the observation and they are given a verbal and written report of their performance after the lesson. This is working well and has helped increase the amount of good and very good teaching since the previous inspection. It has also helped teachers have a more relaxed view of being watched by colleagues and other professionals. This was evident in the high morale of all staff and the positive way they approached the inspection.
p.13
The leadership and management of the school are extremely good and pave the way
10 Staff with leadership and managerial roles have a good understanding of their responsibilities and contribute to the effective management of the school. Subject co- ordinators provide informal advice for colleagues and more formal training in their subjects during training days. As a result, there is a strong sense of shared purpose and teamwork in the school, which is evident in the support teachers give to one another and their willingness to work hard to continue to raise standards. In addition, subject co- ordinators monitor the curriculum closely through looking at teachers’ planning. They analyse the results of National Curriculum tests in English, mathematics and science and are involved in consultations about setting targets and identifying gaps in teaching or learning. They also try to ensure that the curriculum is well matched to the age, ability and ethnicity of all groups of pupils.
p.13
The leadership and management of the school are extremely good and pave the way
11 The governing body does a very good job for the school. They meet in a variety of committees to monitor the work of the school closely and are not afraid to challenge decisions about spending, the curriculum and staffing. By working closely with curriculum co-ordinators, governors are knowledgeable about developments resulting from the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies and about initiatives such as Performance Management. They set realistic but challenging targets for attainment in English and mathematics and compare the school’s results with those of other schools, both locally and nationally. With a strong lead from the chair of governors, they fulfil all of their responsibilities and have a close involvement in much of the work of the school.
p.13
The leadership and management of the school are extremely good and pave the way
12 The real strength of leadership in this school is that everyone is pulling in the same direction for the benefit of pupils. This puts the school in a good position to be able to improve further in the coming years.
p.13
The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and
13 The school makes very good provision for pupils with special educational needs. Every effort is made to accommodate pupils with physical disabilities and all staff provide support for pupils with emotional and behavioural problems. The school makes good use of specialists such as educational psychologists and speech therapists to provide specific and expert help for pupils who need it.
p.13
The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and
14 Teachers feel that it is important to identify pupils’ special educational needs as early as possible in order to provide additional support before pupils begin to feel that they are falling behind. In order to do this they make good use of tests carried out in the reception classes to determine which pupils need extra help. As a result, pupils with learning difficulties arising from reading, writing and mathematics are quickly given the support they need, either in the classroom or in small groups withdrawn for extra help. The Jesse Gray Primary School - 14 system has proved to be particularly effective in that last year, a number of pupils with special educational needs achieved the levels expected for their age in national tests.
p.13
The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and
15 Having identified pupils who need additional support, teachers and the co-ordinator work closely to create an individual programme for learning. All pupils have individual education plans, which set clear targets for their learning. The good quality of these is one of the reasons that pupils often catch up and no longer need additional support. These programmes of work are very focused and the targets are not only well-matched to pupils’ needs but also show that work has been planned carefully and in manageable chunks that ensure pupils get a feeling of success.
p.14
The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and
16 In lessons, pupils with special educational needs are fully included in all activities and are given the help they need to achieve success. Teachers ensure that they pitch work and questions at the right level and because they share the targets and aims of the lesson, pupils know how well they are doing. Firm but friendly management of pupils with emotional or behavioural problems ensures that they play a full part in the lesson and do not disrupt the learning of others. Classroom assistants and support staff make a significant contribution to the quality of provision. Their time and talents are put to good use by teachers and their efforts are a key reason in why pupils with special educational needs make such good progress.
p.14
The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and
17 From the earliest stages, pupils’ views are taken into consideration in setting targets and reviewing their progress. They are encouraged to say how they can help themselves and their opinions are also listened to during meetings to review their progress. Parents are also involved at each stage. They play a valuable part in setting targets and reviewing their children’s progress and are given helpful guidelines about how to help their children at home. They are invited to the annual reviews and other meetings with teachers and the co-ordinator for special educational needs. All of this works very effectively.
p.14
The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and
18 The co-ordinator is very efficient in carrying out her duties and keeps staff up-to-date about national developments and changes to the system. New initiatives for helping pupils are seized upon and made to work very quickly. Consequently, the school is well prepared to take on the changes to the Code of Practice for supporting pupils with special educational needs. The combined efforts of teachers, support staff and parents ensure that pupils with special educational needs make particularly good progress in English and mathematics.
p.14
The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and
Pupils are very keen to learn and rarely miss school.
p.14
The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and
19 Pupils’ very positive attitudes to learning help them achieve well in much of their work. From the time they join the reception class children enjoy their time in school and as a result attendance is very high. The youngest children are happy to wave goodbye to parents and get on with the activities of the day. Their willingness to learn was evident in the way that they joined in with group activities or chose to read books. They particularly enjoyed practical activities, such as building a tall brick wall for Humpty Dumpty to sit on. Older pupils are no different. They enjoy investigating in science or mathematics and are particularly keen to use computers in their work. In lessons, pupils listen attentively to what their teachers say and try to repeat the words that they use when talking about their work. For example, pupils in a Year 3 and 4 class used the terms multi-media and icon to describe their tasks because they had heard their teacher using the same
p.14
The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and
technical vocabulary. Many pupils in a class in Year 6 had done the homework Jesse Gray Primary School - 15 necessary to prepare them well for a history lesson about the wives of Henry VIII and they were keen to share their knowledge with the rest of the class.
p.14
The school’s provision for pupils with special educational needs is very good and
20 Pupils of all ages and abilities are proud of their school and what it has to offer. When asked, pupils’ enthusiasm for school bubbles over and they are eager to talk about their favourite lessons and subjects. Younger pupils say that they look forward to many of the educational visits that they know they will make as they get older and pupils of all ages spoke excitedly about the knowledge they have gained from visitors to the school, such as theatre groups. Throughout the school, pupils are keen to get involved in the after- school clubs and sports that are led by teachers and external providers.
p.15
Teachers are not yet making sufficient use of computers to teach mathematics and
21 Although standards are very high in mathematics and science, teachers agree that the next step in maintaining or improving attainment is to make more use of computers in both of these subjects. At present, computers are not used sufficiently to support pupils’ learning in either subject. There are few examples of pupils using spreadsheets or databases or of communicating their findings as computer generated graphs, charts or tables. This is an aspect of teaching that the co-ordinators for mathematics, science and information and communication technology intend to improve in the next year.
p.15
Teachers are not yet making sufficient use of computers to teach mathematics and
22 Until recently, classrooms did not all have computers in them and this meant that work on information and communication technology was generally carried out in the computer suite. Now that all classrooms have at least one computer, and some have a printer, teachers have the resources to plan for pupils to have more frequent opportunities to use computers in both subjects.
p.15
WHAT SHOULD THE SCHOOL DO TO IMPROVE FURTHER?
23 Governors, the headteacher and staff should
p.15
Increase the use that teachers make of computers to
a. teach aspects of mathematics such as spreadsheets and databases, b. record the results of investigations as charts, tables, graphs and diagrams in mathematics and science. (Paragraphs 21 and 22) Jesse Gray Primary School - 16
p.15
Summary of the sources of evidence for the inspection
Number of discussions with staff, governors, other adults and pupils 11
p.16
Summary of teaching observed during the inspection
Excellent Very good Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactor y Poor Very Poor
p.16
Summary of teaching observed during the inspection
The table gives the number and percentage of lessons observed in each of the seven categories used to make judgements about teaching. Care should be taken when interpreting these percentages as each lesson represents five percentage points.
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Pupils on the school’s roll Nursery YR – Y6
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Number of pupils on the school’s roll (FTE for part-time pupils) 426
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Number of full-time pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 9
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Special educational needs Nursery YR – Y6
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Number of pupils with statements of special educational needs 2
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Number of pupils on the school’s special educational needs register 100
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
English as an additional language No of pupils
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Number of pupils with English as an additional language 37
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Pupil mobility in the last school year No of pupils
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Pupils who joined the school other than at the usual time of first admission 12
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Pupils who left the school other than at the usual time of leaving 11
p.16
Attendance
School data 3.5 School data 0.2 Jesse Gray Primary School - 17 National comparative data 5.6 National comparative data 0.5
p.16
Attendance
Both tables give the percentage of half days (sessions) missed through absence for the latest complete reporting year. Jesse Gray Primary School - 18
p.17
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2)
Number of registered pupils in final year of Key Stage 1 for the latest reporting year 2001 38 30 68
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2)
National Curriculum Test/Task Results Reading Writing Mathematics
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2)
Boys 29 32 34 Numbers of pupils at NC level 2 and above Girls 30 28 28
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2)
Percentage of pupils School 87 (98) 88 (100) 91 (97) at NC level 2 or above National 84 (83) 86 (84) 91 (90)
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2)
Teachers’ Assessments English Mathematics Science
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2)
Boys 32 34 37 Numbers of pupils at NC level 2 and above Girls 30 28 29
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2)
Percentage of pupils School 91 (97) 91 (100) 97 (98) at NC level 2 or above National 85 (84) 89 (88) 89 (88)
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2)
Percentages in brackets refer to the year before the latest reporting year.
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6)
Number of registered pupils in final year of Key Stage 2 for the latest reporting year 2001 34 38 72
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6)
National Curriculum Test/Task Results English Mathematics Science
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6)
Boys 29 28 32 Numbers of pupils at NC level 4 and above Girls 35 33 37
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6)
Percentage of pupils School 89 (88) 85 (87) 96 (94) at NC level 4 or above National 75 (75) 71 (72) 87 (85)
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6)
Teachers’ Assessments English Mathematics Science
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6)
Boys 26 27 33 Numbers of pupils at NC level 4 and above Girls 36 33 37
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6)
Percentage of pupils School 91 (75) 85 (87) 99 (87) at NC level 4 or above National 72 (70) 74 (72) 82 (79)
p.18
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6)
Percentages in brackets refer to the year before the latest reporting year. Jesse Gray Primary School - 19
p.18
Ethnic background of pupils Exclusions in the last school year
Black – Caribbean heritage 7 Black – Caribbean heritage 0 0
p.19
Ethnic background of pupils Exclusions in the last school year
Black – African heritage 5 Black – African heritage 0 0
p.19
Ethnic background of pupils Exclusions in the last school year
Any other minority ethnic group 0 Other minority ethnic groups 0 0
p.19
Ethnic background of pupils Exclusions in the last school year
This table refers to pupils of compulsory school age only. This table gives the number of exclusions of pupils of compulsory school age, which may be different from the number of pupils excluded.
p.19
Teachers and classes Financial information
Total number of qualified teachers (FTE) 15.6 Financial year 2000/2001
p.19
Teachers and classes Financial information
Number of pupils per qualified teacher 27.18
p.19
Teachers and classes Financial information
Education support staff: YR – Y6 Total income 920873
p.19
Teachers and classes Financial information
Total number of education support staff 10 Total expenditure 907060
p.19
Teachers and classes Financial information
Total aggregate hours worked per week 205.5 Expenditure per pupil 1972
p.19
Teachers and classes Financial information
Balance brought forward from previous year 0
p.19
Teachers and classes Financial information
Balance carried forward to next year 13813
p.19
Recruitment of teachers
Number of teachers who left the school during the last two years 3
p.19
Recruitment of teachers
Number of teachers appointed to the school during the last two years 5
p.19
Recruitment of teachers
Total number of vacant teaching posts (FTE) 0
p.19
Recruitment of teachers
Number of vacancies filled by teachers on temporary contract of a term or more (FTE) 0
p.19
Recruitment of teachers
Number of unfilled vacancies or vacancies filled by teachers on temporary contract of less than one term (FTE) 0
p.19
Recruitment of teachers
FTE means full-time equivalent. Jesse Gray Primary School - 20
p.19
Results of the survey of parents and carers
Number of questionnaires returned 163 (38%)
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
Percentage of responses in each category
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
Strongly agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
My child is making good progress in school. 51 41 3 2 3
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
Behaviour in the school is good. 44 51 1 0 4
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
My child gets the right amount of work to do at home. 30 46 17 3 4
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
I am kept well informed about how my child is getting on. 36 45 17 2 0
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
I would feel comfortable about approaching the school with questions or a problem. 67 28 4 0 1
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
The school expects my child to work hard and achieve his or her best. 66 30 1 1 2
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
The school works closely with parents. 45 43 9 1 2
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
The school is well led and managed. 45 40 6 0 8
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
The school is helping my child become mature and responsible. 52 43 3 1 1
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
The school provides an interesting range of activities outside lessons. 26 43 13 3 15
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
Twenty-six parents made additional comments Strongest points – in order • Staff are helpful, approachable, friendly and hardworking. • There are too few meetings for parents and insufficient information about pupils’ progress. • Individual pupils get good support, particularly if they have learning difficulties. • The size of the school makes it impersonal – more like a business concern. • The school provides a first-class education. • Sometimes the school doesn’t listen to parents’ views or concerns. • There is some bullying and misbehaviour, which is not always dealt with effectively.
p.20
Results of the survey of parents and carers
These additional comments are the points of view of a small number of parents.
p.20
Discuss this inspection
Members compare notes on inspectors and inspections here. Join free to read and post.
Join the discussion