Hanover Primary School

Hanover Primary School Inspection report

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100407 Unique Reference Number Islington Local Authority 276302 Inspection number 3 °4 October 2005 Inspection dates Nicola Davies 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 School

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The governing body Appropriate authority Ms Karen Patrick Chair Mrs C Thumwood Not previously inspected Date of previous school inspection Noel Road School address London N1 8BD

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02076898949 Telephone number 02072881700 Fax number

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3 °11 Age group 3 °4 October 2005 Inspection dates 276302 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 three additional inspectors.

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Description of the school

Hanover Primary School is 3-11 primary school in Islington. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage, but many other ethnic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds are represented in the school. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is broadly average. However, there is a very wide range of abilities in each year group. The number of pupils who are eligible for free school meals is above average.The school has a stable core of teachers along with more recent appointments. The school has been through a period of considerable uncertainty and change since its last inspection in 2000. The current Head has been in post since 2003.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 7 Inspection Report: Hanover Primary School, 3 °4 October 2005

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What the school should do to improve further

* Evaluate the school's performance rigorously in order to focus sharply on strategic planning to raise standards.* Improve standards in mathematics by providing more opportunities for pupils to use their numeracy skills in other subjects.* Improve attendance and punctuality.

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Grade:

Teaching is satisfactory and enables pupils to enjoy their education and make the progress they should. Teaching is good in the Foundation Stage and children learn enthusiastically. There is a strong focus on practical work. Opportunities to talk and play develop children's early reading and writing skills. In Years 1 to 6, pupils enjoy working and learning more independently and respond very well to challenge. Several good lessons in mathematics were seen as teachers responded to the school's new initiatives and focused well on promoting pupils' skills in mental arithmetic.There is a good focus on ensuring that pupils of different abilities do as well as they can. Pupils with special educational needs are identified and supported well. Support staff have benefited from training and contribute well in lessons. Pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds are supported well and their performance tracked.The headteacher and

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Grade:

senior staff recognise that consistently good teaching is essential to help pupils learn as well as they can. They have developed systems to promote this, such as additional training in subject areas. Assessment is satisfactory overall although not all marking makes clear to pupils what they need to do to improve. This is done well in some classes in mathematics and English among older pupils.

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Grade:

The pupils do a broad and interesting range of work. The curriculum in the Foundation Stage is good, although there is a shortage of resources here and in many areas of the school. Each teacher has responsibility for a particular curriculum area and helps the school decide how it can improve. This is beginning to have an impact on developing links between subjects and is contributing to some improvement in writing. Good creative work features across the curriculum. Pupils and parents appreciate the 'brilliant' opportunities they have to develop new skills and understandings through music and art. One parent related how an art project 'making giant whales' had given her shy child the confidence to speak clearly and confidently in front of the whole school. School musical productions, choirs, orchestras and open assemblies are enjoyed by pupils and parents alike. These provide excellent opportunities for pupils to develop their

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Grade:

individual skills but also to work together in teams. The curriculum for pupils is enriched by a 4 of 7 Inspection Report: Hanover Primary School, 3 °4 October 2005 wide range of visits and trips and by the involvement of the local community in school life. Many local business people have volunteered to provide extra opportunities for pupils to read or play maths games during the school day. Local companies and individuals have also been part of fundraising and development. For example, the new curriculum kitchen has benefited from donations from local businesses.

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Grade:

Many parents comment favourably on the care for individual pupils at the school. Good provision is made for children starting school and they settle quickly and begin to learn. Systems to support the progress of pupils with particular skills and needs are effective. For example, many pupils receive good support from the learning mentor. Procedures for tracking each pupil's progress have recently been strengthened.Overall, the school provides satisfactory care for pupils. The many improvements to the school buildings have made the school a safer and more pleasant place for pupils. Staff have a good understanding of child protection and the school works effectively with outside agencies. However procedures to identify risks are not well established. The school consults pupils well through the school council. Pupils are delighted to take part in this and make a good contribution to decision making.Attendance is

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Grade:

unsatisfactory. The school has recently begun to focus on reducing absence with the support of external agencies.

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Grade:

5 of 7 Inspection Report: Hanover Primary School, 3 °4 October 2005 .

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Grade:

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: Hanover Primary School, 3 °4 October 2005

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

This letter is to tell you about the findings of the recent inspection at Hanover school. Thank you for taking the time to talk to inspectors about the school. We were very impressed by your friendly and mature attitudes in lessons and around the school. We also noticed how much you respect your teachers and how much they respect you. We found out that you learnt a lot in the Foundation Stage and you make good progress. However we also noted that you do not always do as well as you should in Years 1-6. This is beginning to change, but we need to be sure that all of you do as well as you should all the time. The staff at the school takes a great deal of pride in making sure that you all develop as individuals. They help you to think about the wider world and the people who live in it. They make sure they support those of you who find learning harder or need to learn more English. They do some very good work with you in creative arts which you and your parents enjoy. You

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

behave well but attendance is not good enough and pupils do not always arrive on time. The headteacher and senior teachers have made many improvements to the school. However, they need to concentrate on making sure that each of you does the best you can all of the time. The school also needs to help you do better in mathematics by giving you more chance to think about maths in other lessons. You need to help the school by coming to school every day and making sure you are always on time. 7 of 7 Inspection Report: Hanover Primary School, 3 °4 October 2005

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