Hargrave Park School

Hargrave Park Primary School Inspection report

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100408 Unique Reference Number Islington Local Authority 276303 Inspection number 3 °4 November 2005 Inspection dates Charalambos Loizou 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 Miss Debbie Brown Chair Ms W Meredith Not previously inspected Date of previous school inspection Hargrave Park School address London N19 5JN

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02072723989 Telephone number 02072727847 Fax number

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3 °11 Age group 3 °4 November 2005 Inspection dates 276303 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 inspectors.

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Description of the school

The school serves an ethnically diverse community in Islington, north London. It is situated in a designated Education Action Zone. This scheme provides additional funding to raise standards in areas experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. Over one third of the pupils speak English as an additional language and most of these are in the early stages of learning English A very high number of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Many pupils join or leave the school at other than the usual times and 8% of the pupils are from refugee or asylum families. The percentage of pupils with learning difficulties is in line with the national average but the proportion with a statement of special need is higher than average. Attainment on entry is usually well below average when pupils start school. The school provides a very good range of activities before and after school hours.

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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: Hargrave Park Primary School, 3 °4 November 2005

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What the school should do to improve further

Improving the links teachers make between subjects.* Improving attendance rates.

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Grade:

Teaching and learning are consistently good with some outstanding features. In the very best lessons teaching is lively, engaging, focused and well-paced. This helps the pupils to develop positive attitudes to learning. In these lessons teachers tell pupils the lesson objective in language they understand and refer back to the objective as the lesson progresses. In this way the pupils are clear about each stage of their learning. Changes in staffing this year have been well managed. Teachers who are new to teaching, or new to the school, have received very good support which has enabled them to settle quickly and adopt the school's clear approaches to teaching and learning. This has resulted in consistency across the school and the continuation of good pupil progress. Marking in books is generally helpful and shows pupils how to improve. Assessment is linked to the marking so the pupils have clear learning targets at each stage of

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Grade:

series of lessons. Teaching assistants provide good support for pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities through timely and well-focused questions and instructions. Basic skills in English and mathematics are taught very effectively and pupils make rapid progress in these subjects. Pupils enjoy actively participating in lessons and say they particularly like undertaking science experiments, swimming and being picked to demonstrate in lessons.

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Grade:

The curriculum is well structured, interesting and varied. The use of the Success for All scheme to teach English across the school has proven to be very effective. The school is working to develop stronger links between subjects to make the curriculum even more interesting and relevant for pupils. The school is not always providing enough opportunities for the pupils to apply core skills learned in English, mathematics and science to other subjects. The provision for information and communication technology has improved well since the last inspection. There is currently a satisfactory range of computers and interactive whiteboards in classrooms and these are used well to consolidate skills in the curriculum. The school provides a wide range of clubs before and after school and at lunchtime and these are a strength of the school. The clubs very effectively enrich and enliven the range of learning opportunities for pupils and are

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Grade:

held in high regard by pupils and parents. The wide variety of clubs on offer include homework club, circus skills club, chess club and a Brazilian football club, all of which are very well attended by boys and girls from across the school. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: Hargrave Park Primary School, 3 °4 November 2005

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Grade:

The quality of care, guidance and support is outstanding and parents speak highly of this aspect of the school. The school works hard to provide a very good balance of support and guidance that help the pupils to reach their potential. The school works closely with parents to ensure that they understand the value of learning, leading to a team approach. The school benefits from the diversity of cultures and ethnic backgrounds and this helps the pupils to appreciate the views of others and work towards common values in their community. The atmosphere around the school is calm and measured and this is having a positive impact on the pupils' attitudes in lessons and their learning.The pupils feel they are valued and that the staff will deal with their problems or concerns. Very good records are kept to monitor pupils with learning difficulties and those learning English as an additional language. These are used to provide

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Grade:

appropriate levels of support and guidance. Pupils from asylum and refugee families are given very good support and encouragement. Standards of care are consistently very high, with robust arrangements for safeguarding pupils especially during the current building work. All requirements for child protection are fully in place.

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Grade:

5 of 7 Inspection Report: Hargrave Park Primary School, 3 °4 November 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: Hargrave Park Primary School, 3 °4 November 2005

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Thank you very much for making the inspectors feel so welcome. We enjoyed talking to many of you and were very pleased to see how well behaved you are and how much you enjoy school. The pupils that we spoke to said that your school is a fun place to be in and you learn a lot. You and your parents say that yours is a good school. I am pleased to say that we agree. You are all doing well in lessons and believe that the school also offers many other things for you to do before and after school hours. Your teachers and other adults do a good job and are helping you to do your best so that by the time you leave the school you know the same things as most pupils in other schools. Inspectors know this because the tests you take each year when you are in Year 2 and in Year 6 show good results.Ms Meredith and the adults in charge of your school are good at checking how well you are doing and have good ideas about how to make

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

the school even better. We would like your teachers to carry on improving your lessons by helping you to use your reading, writing, mathematics and science skills more in other subjects like art, geography, history, music and religious education. The inspectors were very pleased to see classes receiving special attendance certificates in assembly for coming to school every day. We have noticed that attendance could still be better and have asked that you all try hard to make sure that more pupils come to school every day. Best Wishes Charalambos Loizou Lead inspector 7 of 7 Inspection Report: Hargrave Park Primary School, 3 °4 November 2005

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