Summary
What we read, and from where
Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.
- Inspectorssingle source
Canada House
- URN verified
102316
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.
- Teachers’ management of pupils is excellent and their expectations of how all pupils, including those with special educational needs, will work and behave are very high, enabling them to make good progress throughout the school. p.9
- Teachers know their pupils and their abilities very well and make excellent use of a variety of methods of assessment to ensure good, and sometimes very good, progress. p.8
- The school is very effective as can be clearly seen from the high standards reached by pupils and the good progress they make. p.6
- The good teaching throughout the school leads to pupils achieving high standards in the core subjects of English, mathematics and science Pupils’ excellent attitudes, values and behaviour The very good care taken of pupils Partnership with parents Leadership and management of the headteacher and governing body p.5
- Pupils’ excellent attitudes, values and behaviour p.6
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.
- Provision for pupils’ spiritual and multicultural development Standards in religious education and information and communication technology could be higher if they were given more time within the curriculum Opportunities for pupils to take responsibility for their own learning, especially devising their own experiments in science Outdoor provision for children under five p.5
- Standards in religious education and information and communication technology could be higher if they were given more time within the curriculum p.6
- Opportunities for pupils to take responsibility for their own learning, especially in devising their own experiments in science p.6
- Outdoor provision for children under five The areas for improvement will form the basis of the governors’ action plan. p.6
- All these issues were thoroughly addressed in the post-inspection action plan. p.6
- Scotts Primary School - 7 Staff have received extensive training in geography, art, religious education, physical education and music, and standards in most of subjects have been maintained, despite the recent national emphases on literacy and numeracy. p.6
- Standards in religious education have been broadly maintained but insufficient time given to the subject limits pupils’ further progress. p.6
- Further opportunities have been provided to develop pupils’ personal p.6
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
- 5,547
- longer than usual (typical 1049)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 44, typical 45
- Average sentence
- 20 words
- Next steps
- 8
- typical 5
- Hedged sentences
- 7%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
SCOTTS PRIMARY SCHOOL
Dates of inspection: 27-28 th November 2000
p.1
SCOTTS PRIMARY SCHOOL
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
SCOTTS 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. Scotts Primary School - 3
p.2
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
School address: Bonington Road, Hornchurch Essex
p.3
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Appropriate authority: The Governing Body Name of chair of governors: Mrs. J. Hull
p.3
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Date of previous inspection: 3 rd February 1997 Scotts Primary School - 4
p.3
Team members
WES World-wide Education Service Canada House 272 Field End Road Eastcote Middlesex HA4 9NA
p.4
Team members
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
Team members
The Registrar Inspection Quality Division
p.4
Team members
Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE Scotts 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
WHAT THE SCHOOL DOES WELL 11
The good teaching throughout the school leads to pupils achieving high standards in the core subjects of English, mathematics and science Pupils’ excellent attitudes, values and behaviour The very good care taken of pupils Partnership with parents Leadership and management of the headteacher and governing body
p.5
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED 14
Provision for pupils’ spiritual and multicultural development Standards in religious education and information and communication technology could be higher if they were given more time within the curriculum Opportunities for pupils to take responsibility for their own learning, especially devising their own experiments in science Outdoor provision for children under five
p.5
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The school occupies one site, with an adjacent playgroup, in Hornchurch in Essex. There are 211 pupils on roll, aged between four and eleven. This is similar in size to other schools of this kind. At the time of the inspection, there were 24 children under five, all of whom attend full time. There are very few pupils from an ethnic minority background and there are no children of travelling or refugee families. Six pupils come from homes where English is an additional language, and this is higher than the majority of primary schools, but only one is at an early stage of acquiring the language. There are 23 pupils on the school’s register of special educational needs, which is below the national average. Their needs include moderate learning difficulties, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and physical and mental disabilities. Three pupils have statements of special educational need, which is broadly in line
p.6
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL
with the national average. Children come to the school with a broad range of abilities, which are generally above the county average.
p.6
HOW GOOD THE SCHOOL IS
The school is very effective as can be clearly seen from the high standards reached by pupils and the good progress they make. Good teaching and very good leadership and management lead to high results in the tests at the age of eleven. These results put the school in the top five per cent of schools in the country, which ensures that the school gives good value for money.
p.6
What the school does well
• The good teaching throughout the school leads to pupils achieving high standards in the core subjects of English, mathematics and science. • Pupils’ excellent attitudes, values and behaviour • The very good care taken of pupils • Partnership with parents • Leadership and management of the headteacher and governing body
p.6
What could be improved
• Standards in religious education and information and communication technology could be higher if they were given more time within the curriculum • Provision for pupils’ spiritual and multicultural development • Opportunities for pupils to take responsibility for their own learning, especially in devising their own experiments in science • Outdoor provision for children under five The areas for improvement will form the basis of the governors’ action plan.
p.6
HOW THE SCHOOL HAS IMPROVED SINCE ITS LAST INSPECTION
The school was last inspected in February 1997 and the following areas for development were identified: extending the high standards in the core subjects to geography, art and religious education; increasing teachers’ expertise in physical education and music; developing spiritual development and extending social learning to include citizenship; and, developing the school grounds as a learning resource. All these issues were thoroughly addressed in the post-inspection action plan. Scotts Primary School - 7 Staff have received extensive training in geography, art, religious education, physical education and music, and standards in most of subjects have been maintained, despite the recent national emphases on literacy and numeracy. Standards in religious education have been broadly maintained but insufficient time given to the subject limits pupils’ further progress. Further opportunities have been provided to develop pupils’ personal
p.6
HOW THE SCHOOL HAS IMPROVED SINCE ITS LAST INSPECTION
responsibilities and understanding of citizenship but there is still more to be done. The school grounds have been improved to enhance learning in science, geography and art. The high quality of teaching identified in the previous report has been maintained and pupils continue to make very good progress during their time in the school. There is scope for further opportunities for pupils’ spiritual development and their knowledge and understanding of non-white, non-European cultures. Overall, there has been good improvement since the last inspection.
p.7
STANDARDS
The table shows the standards achieved by eleven year olds based on average point scores in National Curriculum tests.
p.7
STANDARDS
Performance in: all schools similar schools Key
p.7
STANDARDS
English A A* A B well above average above average A B Mathematics A A A* A* average below average C D Science B A A* A* well below average E
p.7
STANDARDS
The pupils’ performance in the tests in 2000 in English, mathematics and science puts the school in the top five per cent of schools in England. In all these subjects, pupils did much better than in the majority of schools. In comparison with similar schools, pupils’ attainment was very high in mathematics and science, and above the average in English. The trend of improvement over the last four years is broadly in line with the national average and the increase was greater in 2000. At the age of seven, the cohort of 2000 attained much lower standards in comparison with similar schools, although broadly in line with the national average. This was because of the fluctuating abilities of pupils on their entry to the school and the higher proportion of pupils with special educational needs in that year group. The targets set for pupils’ attainment are challenging, and this means that the progress made
p.7
STANDARDS
throughout Key Stage 2 is remarkable. Standards in religious education have been maintained since the previous inspection and broadly meet the levels expected in the locally Agreed Syllabus, but pupils’ knowledge and understanding of religions other than Christianity could be improved if more time were given to the subject. In information and communication technology, standards are improving as teachers build progressively on skills taught throughout the school. In the use of word processing and logging data into pre-prepared programs, standards are above the national expectation. However, there is a lack of skills in searching for and retrieving information and the subject is not always integrated fully into all areas of the curriculum. Children in the Foundation Stage are likely to exceed the national early learning goals in communication, language and literacy, in mathematical development, creative development, knowledge and understanding of the world and in personal and social
p.7
STANDARDS
development. Scotts Primary School - 8 Their skills are less well developed in physical education because of the lack of large play equipment and outdoor facilities. In the work seen during the inspection, standards were above the national average in English, mathematics and science, reflecting those seen in the national tests. All pupils, including those with special educational needs, make good progress and work to the best of their abilities.
p.7
Aspect Comment
Attitudes to the school Excellent. Pupils tackle their demanding tasks with enthusiasm and show a determination to improve.
p.8
Aspect Comment
Behaviour, in and out of classrooms Excellent. Pupils behave extremely well both in the classrooms and around the school.
p.8
Aspect Comment
Personal development and relationships The quality of relationships between pupils is very good, and teachers and other adults in the school set good examples of respect and tolerance for others. However, there is further scope for pupils to develop responsibility for their own learning.
p.8
Aspect Comment
Pupils come to school expecting to work hard, and they do so. They respond very well to their teachers’ very high expectations of behaviour and academic achievement, concentrating hard and persevering with demanding tasks even when they find them difficult. However, pupils are very reliant on teachers’ instructions and do not extend or add to tasks for themselves. Pupils relate very well to one another, with older ones looking after the infants (especially in the reception year).
p.8
Teaching of pupils: aged up to 5 years aged 5-7 years aged 7-11 years
Lessons seen overall Good Good 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: aged up to 5 years aged 5-7 years aged 7-11 years
The quality of teaching in the Foundation Stage for children under five is good and ensures that children will exceed the expected level in the national early learning goals with the exception of physical development. The teaching of English is good in both the infant and junior phases. Teachers plan their literacy lessons according to the National Strategy and ensure that the work set is appropriate so that pupils may make the best progress. In mathematics, teaching is good, particularly in the numeracy hour. Teachers know their pupils and their abilities very well and make excellent use of a variety of methods of assessment to ensure good, and sometimes very good, progress. The very good support for pupils with special educational needs ensures that they too progress very well. The teaching is consistently good across the school. Scotts Primary School - 9 In the lessons seen, the teaching was good in 91 per cent, very good in a further four per cent
p.8
Teaching of pupils: aged up to 5 years aged 5-7 years aged 7-11 years
and satisfactory in the remaining five per cent. The majority of lessons are well planned, well organised and well managed, with work set which challenges pupils to achieve their best. No unsatisfactory teaching was seen. Teachers’ management of pupils is excellent and their expectations of how all pupils, including those with special educational needs, will work and behave are very high, enabling them to make good progress throughout the school.
p.9
Aspect Comment
The quality and range of the curriculum Good, overall. The school provides a good range of learning opportunities, supported by some visits and visitors.
p.9
Aspect Comment
Provision for pupils with special educational needs Very good overall. Lower attainers are identified early and good support is given, enabling them to make very good progress. Higher attainers are sufficiently challenged.
p.9
Aspect Comment
Provision for pupils with English as an additional language Very good. Pupils receive extra support from external agencies, and teachers ensure that adequate support is given to overcome their linguistic difficulties.
p.9
Aspect Comment
Provision for pupils’ personal, including spiritual, moral, social and cultural, development Good overall. Moral and social education are very good and pupils have a good knowledge and understanding of their own cultural heritage. There is still scope for further opportunities for spiritual development and multicultural education.
p.9
Aspect Comment
How well the school cares for its pupils Very good. Assessment is used very well to make the greatest possible impact on pupils’ attainment and progress.
p.9
Aspect Comment
The school provides a rather restricted range of after-school clubs, although in common with many other schools, few of these opportunities are extended to infant pupils. The broad curriculum fully meets statutory requirements and is well adapted to the new National Curriculum requirements. There is, however, some imbalance in the time allocations, which means that some literacy and numeracy sessions are overlong so that less time is available for subjects such as religious education and information and communication technology, which prevents pupils from making further progress. The school takes the greatest possible care of its pupils and supports their learning very well. The residential visit for Year 6 pupils supports their social and cultural development, and learning, in many areas of the curriculum.
p.9
Aspect Comment
Leadership and management by the headteacher and other key staff Very good. The headteacher, ably supported by her deputy head and senior management team, has a very clear idea of where the school is heading.
p.10
Aspect Comment
How well the governors fulfil their responsibilities Very well. The governors have an excellent understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses and fully support the headteacher and staff.
p.10
Aspect Comment
The school’s evaluation of its performance Very good. The monitoring and evaluation of teaching and provision are carried out to very good effect.
p.10
Aspect Comment
The strategic use of resources Very good. The governors ensure that the principles of best value are applied effectively.
p.10
Aspect Comment
Although accommodation is good overall, there is a lack of a dedicated play area for the under fives and this means that their progress in physical development is restricted. The headteacher has built a very good team of teachers and ensures that the governing body is well informed. The governors make prudent financial decisions which take account of the principles of best value when making large purchases or hiring expensive services.
p.10
What pleases parents most What parents would like to see improved
• The teaching is good • Behaviour is good • Their children like school • They are kept well informed about how their children are progressing • The school expects their children to work hard to achieve their best • The school works closely with parents • The school is well led and managed • The range of activities outside lessons • The amount of homework provided
p.10
What pleases parents most What parents would like to see improved
Inspectors agree wholeheartedly with the parents’ very positive views. They partially agree with parents about extra-curricular activities, in that opportunities for after-school clubs are not fully extended to pupils in Key Stage 1, and that insufficient use is made of visits and visitors. Inspectors find that the homework set by the school is appropriate and makes for a good preparation for pupils’ transfer to secondary school. Scotts Primary School - 11
p.10
in English, mathematics and science
1. The consistently good teaching across the school ensures that pupils’ attainment at the age of eleven is very high, compared with the national average, in mathematics and science. The proportion of pupils attaining the higher levels in these subjects is also well above the national average. In English, pupils’ standards of attainment are well above the national average at both the expected and the higher levels. Pupils exceed the challenging targets set for them in all three subjects. In comparison with similar schools, results are also well above the average. In the lessons seen during the inspection, standards were above the national expectation in English and mathematics and in line with it in science. Pupils are well on the way to exceeding national averages considerably again in 2001. At the age of seven, the cohort of 2000 attained lower standards in comparison with similar schools, although broadly
p.11
in English, mathematics and science
in line with the national average. This was because of the fluctuating abilities of pupils on their entry to the school, and the higher proportion of pupils with special educational needs in that year group. The school is confident, however, that the consistently good teaching and high expectations in Key Stage 2 will ensure pupils will make good progress and achieve much more highly by the age of eleven. Inspection evidence bears this out since pupils often make very good progress in the junior classes.
p.11
in English, mathematics and science
2. At the end of both key stages, standards of speaking and listening are above the national average because teachers provide many opportunities for pupils to engage in discussion, for example, in the numeracy hour when pupils talk about the variety of methods of working to arrive at the correct conclusions. Many pupils speak clearly and confidently, and some higher attainers are very articulate, expressing themselves well. Some pupils with prior lower attainment or with special educational needs, have the occasional difficulty in finding the words they need. All pupils demonstrate their good listening skills in the answers they give to questions and in their thoughtful contributions to discussions. In personal and social education lessons, teachers encourage pupils to discuss problems in groups, fostering social interaction and respect for each other’s views. At Key Stage 1, the standard of reading
p.11
in English, mathematics and science
is broadly in line with the national average and pupils are well motivated by their teachers so that a love of books and reading is developing well. Standards in reading in Key Stage 2 are well above the national average, with pupils experiencing a broad range and variety of texts, including classic literature such as Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth,’ Lewis Carroll’s ‘Jabberwocky’ and the myths and legends of Ancient Greece. The skills of interpreting and drawing conclusions from the texts they read are well developed, but teachers sometimes give insufficient opportunities for extending and deepening the knowledge and understanding of pupils with the highest prior attainment because there are not enough lessons where pupils can work independently in the library or on computers. Standards in writing are well above the national expectation. Across the key stage, good progress is made in developing writing skills
p.11
in English, mathematics and science
from simple to complex sentences, and in the understanding and demonstration of skills in the structure of stories in a variety of genres, including fantasy. There is much extended writing, well organised into paragraphs, and some poetry with the occasional striking imagery, for example ‘clouds were white pillows in the sky’, ‘flowers pointing their heads towards the wind like bullets’. There is little evidence of reflective writing, even in history or religious education. Standards of handwriting and presentation are very good, with all pupils writing a fluent, joined-up style. Most work is correctly spelt and punctuated and grammatical conventions are well observed. These good practices are evident throughout the school, from the Foundation Stage for children under five and in the infant classes. Pupils use their literacy skills effectively in other subjects of the curriculum, particularly in the
p.11
in English, mathematics and science
good development of vocabulary associated with particular work in physical education, Scotts Primary School - 12 science, history and geography. Their reports of scientific investigations are well written and organised and their deductive skills are used extensively in history. Teachers maintain a good pace in lessons and their good relationships with their pupils ensure that there is no waste of time. Occasionally, a few pupils lose interest when they are not entirely sure of the purpose of the tasks set. However, not all teachers ensure that when a pupil returns to the class after receiving extra literacy support, they are given the necessary information to tackle the work set in their absence.
p.11
in English, mathematics and science
3. Standards in mathematics are broadly in line with the national expectation at the end of Key Stage 1, and above at the end of Key Stage 2. Examination of past work shows that pupils make good progress over time. Teachers plan carefully and set work which is appropriately challenging for all pupils except those of the highest ability whose opportunities to extend or add to a task through independent work are sometimes restricted. Pupils make mental calculations quickly and accurately, and use all four operations in number correctly. They have a good understanding of how to calculate the perimeter and area of a variety of shapes. They make good use of calculators to check their answers and are becoming more skilled in entering data in cells on a computer spreadsheet. There is, however, limited evidence of mathematical investigations, with challenge in solving problems, particularly for the highest attainers. Pupils make good use of their numeracy skills across the curriculum,
p.12
in English, mathematics and science
for example, in presenting scientific findings in tables, charts and graphs, and their use as a measuring tool in design and technology. In history, they make good use of time-lines to develop their sense of chronology and they make appropriate use of numeracy in geography, for example, in tallying in surveys to construct graphs. Teachers make good curricular links, for example in a history lesson, to link technology and numeracy in exploring Ancient Egyptian building methods. Their expectations, both academic and behavioural, are very high and this results in excellent behaviour and very good response to teaching, enabling pupils to make good progress. Pupils with special educational needs make good progress because of the good care taken in the formulation of their individual education plans and the very good support they receive.
p.12
in English, mathematics and science
4. In the lessons seen, standards in science are in line with the national expectation at the end of Key Stage 1 and above average at Key Stage 2. Teachers generally question well, adapting vocabulary and content to the differing needs of pupils, to enable them all to tackle the same demanding tasks. In Key Stage 1, pupils know that some changes in materials are reversible and that others are not, for example, the ingredients of play dough. They understand the conditions for the growth of living things. By the age of eleven, pupils of all abilities know that the heart is a valve which pumps blood around the body. They find their own heart and pulse beats and count the rates accurately. Most understand how electricity lights a bulb, either from a mains supply or from a battery. They successfully make circuits to light bulbs in series and in parallel. They use the appropriate language accurately, but they
p.12
in English, mathematics and science
have limited experience of scientific investigation because teachers almost always devise the experiments and pupils do not have sufficient opportunities for posing their own questions for exploration. This is because teachers tend to rely rather heavily on the use of worksheets and on practising from past assessment papers.
p.12
in English, mathematics and science
5. In information and communication technology, the teaching emphasises communication, and skills are built upon over time so that, by the end of Key Stage 2, pupils have learned some control and modelling and the skills of using spreadsheets to meet the national expectation.
p.12
in English, mathematics and science
6. Teachers’ marking is inconsistent with the school policy and rarely gives pupils information on what they have done well and how they might improve their work. The use of display celebrates pupils’ achievements but is insufficiently developed as a learning resource to take knowledge and understanding forward. Scotts Primary School - 13
p.12
Pupils’ excellent attitudes, values and behaviour
7. Pupils’ attitudes to the school, their behaviour and their levels of attendance are excellent. In none of the lessons observed was there anything less than good in this respect. Pupils relate very well to one another and follow the good examples of tolerance and respect for others set by their teachers and other adults in the school. This was particularly evident in a physical education lesson in Key Stage 1, where an older child with special educational needs was welcomed into the group and integrated into all activities. Teachers implement the school’s behaviour policy consistently and reinforce their behavioural expectations in their well-established classroom routines. Assemblies are used to help pupils understand and accept moral and social responsibility. All pupils are interested in their work and keen to get on with tasks and to improve their performance. No incidents of bullying or rough behaviour
p.13
Pupils’ excellent attitudes, values and behaviour
on the playground were observed and this very good behaviour was maintained at lunch in the dining-hall, where pupils are seated in ‘family’ groups, making a pleasant social occasion. Pupils from an early age develop a sense of right and wrong, and what is acceptable or unacceptable behaviour. All these aspects are reflected in the school ‘creed’, written by staff and pupils, which is recited at whole school assemblies as a reinforcement of the school’s philosophy of working and playing hard together.
p.13
The very good care taken of pupils
8. The school follows very good procedures for health and safety and the welfare procedures were seen to be put into practice at lunchtime when small accidents occurred and the slight injuries immediately seen to. Procedures for child protection are satisfactory. Parents very much appreciate the well thought out induction procedures, meeting the headteacher with their children for several afternoon sessions before children join the reception class. Staff know their pupils well and make very good use of a variety of assessment strategies to make ongoing observations of pupils’ progress. This assists them in their planning of lessons which take account of what has gone before and what is to follow. Teachers analyse results very carefully by gender and this shows that there is no significant difference between the attainment of boys and girls.
p.13
Partnership with parents
9. Parents’ views of the school are overwhelmingly positive and almost all of them have signed a home-school agreement. Although newsletters are not sent out on a regular basis, parents are very happy with the quality and volume of information provided by the school to enable them to help their children make good progress, for example, the termly information sheets from teachers which outline the work to be covered. The headteacher sees the parents themselves as a positive resource for offering more out of school activities, building on their very good support for parent-teacher events. Those who are involved in the Parent Partnership Group have had the opportunity to discuss changes in school uniform, fees for a course in information and communication technology for parents and the home-school agreement. When issues arise, parents receive a questionnaire from the school to enable them to make their views known. Parents have enthusiastically attended evenings organised
p.13
Partnership with parents
by the school to give them a greater understanding of the school’s organisation, the literacy and numeracy, and the behaviour and health education policies. Several parents help in classrooms and, for the school’s Silver Jubilee, two of them organised and supervised the making of two quilts celebrating the school’s achievements, which subsequently won a national award.
p.13
Leadership and management of the headteacher and governing body
10. The headteacher, her deputy head and senior staff have a very clear idea of where the school is heading and how their hopes for the future can be achieved. Their leadership and management are very good. Their policy for special educational needs and for pupils with Scotts Primary School - 14 English as an additional language ensures social inclusion and good integration for all. The school’s rigorous approach to monitoring and evaluating the quality of its provision means that the headteacher, staff and governors are clear about what is going well and also about what action is needed to bring improvement where things are not as good. The governing body meet all statutory requirements and use the resources available to them very well. As ‘Investors in People’, policies and practices in appraisal and performance management have resulted in well-considered professional development so that staff keep up to date with their
p.13
Leadership and management of the headteacher and governing body
subject knowledge and classroom assistants are properly trained. All staff and governors have a shared commitment to improvement and the capacity to succeed. Governors make prudent financial decisions and apply the principles of best value to their purchases or hiring agreements.
p.14
could be higher if they were given more time within the curriculum
11. The school achieves very highly in the core subjects, as has been noted, but the concentration on these areas results in literacy and numeracy sessions which are overlong, especially in Key Stage 1. As standards are so high, there is scope to allow more time for other subjects such as religious education and information and communication technology, thus ensuring that all subjects have sufficient time to teach in full all areas of the National Curriculum and the Agreed Syllabus. In particular, teachers have difficulty covering all strands of the locally Agreed Syllabus for religious education in sufficient depth, particularly for the older children and the highest attainers, and pupils’ knowledge and understanding of religions is not extended and deepened. Although information and communication technology skills develop well in dedicated lessons, in many lessons there is insufficient time for teachers to
p.14
could be higher if they were given more time within the curriculum
cover the relevant programme of study and incorporate computer skills at the same time.
p.14
Provision for pupils’ spiritual and multicultural development
12. Opportunities have been increased for developing the aesthetic and creative dimension of pupils’ education and thus improving the contribution to spiritual development. For example, some opportunities for reflection through prayer and music and using a lighted candle as a focus in assemblies, signifying to pupils the ‘specialness’ of this time, are provided. There is still scope to improve this area of provision, for example, opportunities for pupils to express their thoughts and feelings freely through dance and drama, rather than on the instructions of the teachers. Few visits are made to museums and art galleries and there are not enough opportunities for pupils to work with established artists, authors, poets and musicians. Religious education lessons do not make their full contribution because pupils have a limited knowledge of world faiths other than Christianity. There is an audit which recognises
p.14
Provision for pupils’ spiritual and multicultural development
areas within the curriculum where spiritual development could be included and some further improvements have been made, but these again have been limited. There are insufficient opportunities for pupils, particularly at the end of Key Stage 2, to reflect on their work and discuss their own views on religion because teachers miss opportunities for these activities. Similarly, pupils have a good knowledge and appreciation of their own culture but a limited awareness of the diversity of ethnic minority groups. The school welcomes visitors from international charities and takes part in providing parcels for children in Kosovo, but pupils have yet to fully grasp the concept of being good citizens of the world.
p.14
devising their own experiments in science
Scotts Primary School - 15 13. Most learning activities are directed by teachers and there are few opportunities for pupils to ask their own questions or select their own resources. This means that progress in the personal development of pupils is restricted by the lack of independent use of search and retrieval skills both in the library and using computers. In the same way, scientific hypotheses are set by teachers who then suggest the experiment to test them, instead of pupils asking their own questions and devising their own investigations to allow them to apply their good scientific knowledge to best effect. Building upon the work done in earlier years, by the age of eleven pupils at the school are confident, mature young people who are well able to take on these responsibilities.
p.15
Outdoor provision for children under five
14. This issue was identified in the previous inspection report and the school acknowledges that its plans in this area of provision have had to be changed since financial resources have been diverted because of recent national emphases on literacy and numeracy. Children under five have some opportunities for physical exercise through physical education lessons in the hall. However, the lack of an outdoor play area with regular planned opportunities for working and playing out of doors has an adverse effect on attainment and progress. Their progress in physical development is restricted by the lack of large climbing and balancing equipment outdoors, and of large construction apparatus.
p.15
WHAT SHOULD THE SCHOOL DO TO IMPROVE FURTHER?
To improve further pupils’ attainment and the effectiveness of the school, the governors, head teacher and staff should:
p.15
WHAT SHOULD THE SCHOOL DO TO IMPROVE FURTHER?
(1) Review the balance of the curriculum to ensure that sufficient time is given to religious education and information and communication technology in order to raise standards further. (Para. 11)
p.15
WHAT SHOULD THE SCHOOL DO TO IMPROVE FURTHER?
(2) Implement more fully the well-prepared audit on spiritual development across the curriculum (Paras. 2, 12)
p.15
WHAT SHOULD THE SCHOOL DO TO IMPROVE FURTHER?
(3) Extend the range of opportunities for pupils to appreciate and celebrate the diversity and richness of cultures represented in the world. (Para.12)
p.15
WHAT SHOULD THE SCHOOL DO TO IMPROVE FURTHER?
(4) Increase opportunities for pupils to take responsibility for their own learning in devising their own experiments in science, and making independent use of the library and information and communication technology. (Paras. 2-4, 13)
p.15
WHAT SHOULD THE SCHOOL DO TO IMPROVE FURTHER?
(5) Make provision for outdoor facilities and large play equipment for children under five. (Para. 14)
p.15
Summary of the sources of evidence for the inspection
Number of lessons observed 18 Number of discussions with staff, governors, other adults and pupils 12 Scotts Primary School - 16
p.15
Summary of teaching observed during the inspection
Excellent Very good Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Poor Very Poor
p.16
Summary of teaching observed during the inspection
0 4 91 5 0 0 0 The table gives the percentage of teaching observed in each of the seven categories used to make judgements about lessons.
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Pupils on the school’s roll Nursery YR-6 Number of pupils on the school’s roll (FTE for part-time pupils) 0 211 Number of full-time pupils eligible for free school meals 0 4 FTE means full-time equivalent.
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Special educational needs Nursery YR-6 Number of pupils with statements of special educational needs 0 3 Number of pupils on the school’s special educational needs register 0 23
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
English as an additional language No of pupils Number of pupils with English as an additional language 6
p.16
Information about the school’s pupils
Pupil mobility in the last school year No of pupils Pupils who joined the school other than at the usual time of first admission Pupils who left the school other than at the usual time of leaving 2
p.16
Authorised absence Unauthorised absence
% % School data 3.4 School data 0 National comparative data 5.4 National comparative data 0.5 Both tables give the percentage of half days (sessions) missed through absence for the latest complete reporting year. Scotts Primary School - 17
p.16
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 1
Year Boys Girls Total Number of registered pupils in final year of Key Stage 1 for the latest reporting year 2000 16 15 31
p.17
National Curriculum Test/Task Results Reading Writing Mathematics
Boys 14 12 16 Numbers of pupils at NC level 2 and above Girls 13 13 12
p.17
National Curriculum Test/Task Results Reading Writing Mathematics
Percentage of pupils School 87 (87) 81 (94) 90 (87) at NC level 2 or above National 83 (82) 84 (83) 90 (87)
p.17
Teachers’ Assessments English Mathematics Science
Boys 14 16 16 Numbers of pupils at NC level 2 and above Girls 13 12 13
p.17
Teachers’ Assessments English Mathematics Science
Percentage of pupils School 87 (86) 90 (83) 94 (80) at NC level 2 or above National 84 (82) 88 (86) 88 (87) Percentages in brackets refer to the year before the latest reporting year.
p.17
Attainment at the end of Key Stage 2
Number of registered pupils in final year of Key Stage 2 for the latest reporting year 14 15 29
p.17
National Curriculum Test/Task Results English Mathematics Science
Boys 14 14 14 Numbers of pupils at NC level 4 and above Girls 15 15 15
p.17
National Curriculum Test/Task Results English Mathematics Science
Percentage of pupils School 100 (100) 100 (97) 100 (97) Scotts Primary School - 18 at NC level 4 or above National 75 (71) 90 (69) 85 (78)
p.17
Teachers’ Assessments English Mathematics Science
Boys 13 14 14 Numbers of pupils at NC level 4 and above Girls 15 15 15
p.18
Teachers’ Assessments English Mathematics Science
Percentage of pupils School 96 (83) 100 (97) 100 (100) at NC level 4 or above National 75 (67) 72 (69) 85 (75) Percentages in brackets refer to the year before the latest reporting year.
p.18
Teachers’ Assessments English Mathematics Science
Ethnic background of pupils Exclusions in the last school year
p.18
Teachers’ Assessments English Mathematics Science
Black – Caribbean heritage 2 Black – Caribbean heritage 0 0
p.18
Teachers’ Assessments English Mathematics Science
Black – African heritage 0 Black – African heritage 0 0
p.18
Teachers’ Assessments English Mathematics Science
Any other minority ethnic group 0 Other minority ethnic groups 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.18
Y6
Total number of qualified teachers (FTE) 8.9 Financial year 2000
p.18
Y6
Number of pupils per qualified teacher 23.7
p.18
Y6
Average class size 30.1 £ Scotts Primary School - 19 Total income 471,472 Education support staff: YR – Y6 Total expenditure 466,661 Total number of education support staff 6 Expenditure per pupil N/A
p.18
Y6
Total aggregate hours worked per week 115 Balance brought forward from previous year 28,751
p.19
Y6
FTE means full-time equivalent. Balance carried forward to next year 33,542
p.19
Percentage of responses in each category
Strongly agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know
p.19
Percentage of responses in each category
My child likes school. 56 38 4 1 1 Scotts Primary School - 20 My child is making good progress in school. 50 46 4 0 0
p.19
Percentage of responses in each category
Behaviour in the school is good. 59 35 3 0 4
p.20
Percentage of responses in each category
My child gets the right amount of work to do at home. 33 49 16 2 1
p.20
Percentage of responses in each category
I am kept well informed about how my child is getting on. 44 46 10 1 0
p.20
Percentage of responses in each category
I would feel comfortable about approaching the school with questions or a problem. 52 42 4 2 0
p.20
Percentage of responses in each category
The school expects my child to work hard and achieve his or her best. 80 17 3 1 0
p.20
Percentage of responses in each category
The school works closely with parents. 49 44 7 1 0
p.20
Percentage of responses in each category
The school is well led and managed. 63 36 0 0 1
p.20
Percentage of responses in each category
The school is helping my child become mature and responsible. 51 38 9 0 2
p.20
Percentage of responses in each category
The school provides an interesting range of activities outside lessons. 29 35 17 4 15
p.20
Discuss this inspection
Members compare notes on inspectors and inspections here. Join free to read and post.
Join the discussion