Thomas Jones Primary School

Thomas Jones Primary School Inspection report

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100488 Unique Reference Number Kensington and Chelsea Local Authority 276319 Inspection number 6 °7 July 2006 Inspection dates Keith Sadler 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 Councillor Simon Blanchflower Chair Mr David Sellens Not previously inspected Date of previous school inspection St Mark's Road School address London W11 1RQ

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02077271423 Telephone number 02072214838 Fax number

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3 °11 Age group 6 °7 July 2006 Inspection dates 276319 Inspection number .

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

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

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is an average sized primary school. Pupils come from a diverse range of backgrounds and the proportion from minority ethnic groups is five times the national average. There are about 100 pupils who speak English as an additional language and are at an early stage of English acquisition. There are 22 languages spoken at the school and the predominant first language is Arabic. Over a third of the pupils are from an asylum seeking or refugee backgrounds. The proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is very high. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is below average.

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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: Thomas Jones Primary School, 6 °7 July 2006

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What the school should do to improve further

Although the school has no major issues for improvement, governors should further strengthen their role by implementing a systematic programme of visits to include all members of the governing body.

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Grade:

The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. Both teachers and support staff work closely together to ensure that the lessons they prepare are challenging, exciting and demanding. In consequence, the pupils' make rapid progress and achieve outstandingly well. They all have a love of learning and have excellent study skills that are consistently demonstrated in lessons. Teachers question pupils exceptionally well and their planning invariably contains objectives relating to the pupils' speaking and listening skills. This emphasis on the pupils' oracy development is critically important given that so many pupils speak English as an additional language. In addition, it provides a strong framework for learning. Teachers constantly ask pupils to talk together about aspects of their work and pupils then use the challenging vocabulary being taught very well. Teachers and support staff listen carefully to what the pupils

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Grade:

say and make good adaptations to their planning in light of these assessments. The diagnosis and provision for pupils with particular learning needs is excellent. Those that find learning hard, have medical disabilities, or have behavioural difficulties and also the high number that are learning English as an additional language are all catered for exceptionally well.

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Grade:

The school's curriculum is good. External requirements are met fully and work is very well planned especially for literacy and numeracy. The Foundation Stage curriculum is outstanding with a vibrant and challenging range of learning opportunities provided for the children. There has been a good improvement in the provision for ICT and consequent rise in standards across the school. The needs of all pupils are very well met, including those with learning difficulties and disabilities, building on prior attainment and experience and relating very well to the multi-cultural and ethnic diversity of the school. Provision for those pupils with English as an additional language is highly effective. A good range of visits, visitors and out-of-lesson activities enhance and enrich the curriculum including activities that help the pupils to develop 4 of 7 Inspection Report: Thomas Jones Primary School, 6 °7 July 2006

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Grade:

a healthy lifestyle. The school is highly responsive to local circumstances and makes a very good contribution to the community.

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Grade:

The care, guidance and support for all pupils are outstanding. Adults work closely together, making strenuous efforts to ensure a friendly and welcoming community is created and sustained. Pupils have confidence in all the adults in school. All pupils are fully included and valued and learners are secure and cared for. Parents have overwhelmingly positive views of what is offered. One commented, 'I have found the school to have provided a calm, peaceful environment for the children to learn'. Health and safety procedures are regularly reviewed and robust arrangements for child protection and risk assessments are in place. Pupils are taught to take care of themselves and to make healthy and safe choices. For example, school lunches are of high quality, prepared from organic ingredients and are appreciated by pupils. The school makes highly effective use of test data to provide challenging targets and provides excellent academic

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Grade:

guidance to pupils of all abilities and needs.

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Grade:

5 of 7 Inspection Report: Thomas Jones Primary School, 6 °7 July 2006 .

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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: Thomas Jones Primary School, 6 °7 July 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Pupils We had a wonderful time when we visited your school. We can understand why you love going to school. We enjoyed talking with you and your teachers and watching your learning. We checked out many things about your school and this is what we found: * Your school is outstanding in almost every way.* Your headteacher is excellent and he makes sure that you learn well, everyone is safe and the adults work really well together.* We think that the standard of your work is exceptional in English, mathematics, science, history, geography, design and technology and ICT. You make rapid and outstanding progress in your learning.* We were particularly impressed with the standards reached by pupils that do not speak English at home. In the Year 6 tests this summer, many of you gained high levels in English, mathematics and science. * Thomas Jones is an exciting and happy place to be. You like going to school because your lessons are exciting and challenging.* Your behaviour is

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

excellent and you work together very well. This means that the teachers do not have to waste time dealing with problems.* We think that all the adults in the school do an excellent job. Your teachers are very talented. They work very hard to make sure that the teaching is excellent and they make sure that you do your best.* All the other adults in the school do really well to make sure that the school is so good. In most schools we visit we make a list of things that can be improved. For your school, we do not have any large tasks for your staff to do. We have a small item which is to ask all the governors to go to your school to watch your learning. With very best wishes for your future. Keith Sadler Lead Inspector 7 of 7 Inspection Report: Thomas Jones Primary School, 6 °7 July 2006

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