English Martyrs' Roman Catholic Primary School

English Martyrs Roman Catholic Primary School Inspection report

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100824 Unique Reference Number Southwark Local Authority 276395 Inspection number 4 °5 May 2006 Inspection dates Wendy Simmons 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 Voluntary aided 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 Mr Tony Amura Chair Mrs Anne Boyd Not previously inspected Date of previous school inspection Flint Street School address London SE17 1RB

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02077034726 Telephone number 02072771743 Fax number

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3 °11 Age group 4 °5 May 2006 Inspection dates 276395 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

This is a popular and oversubscribed school serving a culturally diverse mix of pupils. The school is situated in an area of significant social and economic deprivation and has a high proportion of vulnerable pupils and a very high percentage of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Most pupils are from Black British African backgrounds, but other significant groups included Black Caribbean. A small proportion is from White British or Irish heritages. Almost 80 percent of pupils speak English as an additional language. Although the school has an average number of pupils who experience learning disabilities and difficulties, many have a statement of special educational need. The school has found it difficult to recruit experienced staff.

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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: English Martyrs Roman Catholic Primary School, 4 °5 May 2006

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What the school should do to improve further

* Improve the management of mathematics and science.* Raise attainment for the more able pupils in mathematics and science by setting more challenging opportunities for pupils.

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Grade:

Teaching and learning are satisfactory. Teachers have good relationships with their pupils. Learning is good for pupils with learning disabilities and difficulties because they are quickly identified, work is well planned and they benefit from good support from assistants. Teachers are quick to praise pupils for their good work, generating enthusiasm and confidence. Skilled questioning, together with the use of 'talking partners', help pupils to broaden their speaking skills to good effect. Outstanding teaching in the Nursery promotes quick development of basic skills. English teaching is good. Music is taught well by specialist and results in pupils flourishing in many musical activities. There are times when the work planned for the higher ability pupils is insufficiently challenging, in mathematics and science and the marking of their work does not promote thinking and investigative skills. Occasionally, the management of pupils' behaviour is not firm enough. In

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Grade:

such situations learning is sometimes inadequate.

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Grade:

The curriculum is satisfactory and provides a good range of additional activities, which support pupils' effective personal development. Notably, the good curriculum for the Foundation Stage and English enables pupils to make good progress. Notable strengths include the promotion of healthy lifestyles, citizenship and pupils' financial awareness. Links with other schools and the community are well established, broadening pupils' skills and enjoyment for learning. For example, pupils develop dance skills by linking with the Royal Opera House. The school has a satisfactory overview of the curriculum but, the quality of evaluation, between different subjects, varies too much. As a consequence, pupils do not always make similar rates of progress. The curriculum for pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities and English is good. But planning for higher ability pupils it is not sharp enough in science and mathematics.

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Grade:

While gifted pupils attend helpful workshops elsewhere, they do not have enough opportunities to carry out challenging investigative work in school. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: English Martyrs Roman Catholic Primary School, 4 °5 May 2006

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Grade:

The good care, guidance and support for pupils are significant strengths of the school, particularly given the complex problems in the locality. Parents and pupils are pleased with the care and support given and commented that, 'They feel safe and cared for' in school. Good relationships, focusing on safety, the promotion of healthy lifestyles, and rigorous child protection procedures contribute well to pupils' personal development and care. There are good links with external agencies supporting vulnerable pupils and those with learning difficulties and disabilities, thus enabling them to make good progress. Teachers use assessment information satisfactorily. Pupils know their targets for improvement, but the marking of their work is not of a consistently high standard to guide them on how to improve.

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Grade:

5 of 7 Inspection Report: English Martyrs Roman Catholic Primary School, 4 °5 May 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: English Martyrs Roman Catholic Primary School, 4 °5 May 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Pupils You may remember that three inspectors came to your school recently to find out how good it is and how well you were doing. Thank you for being so friendly and telling us about your school. We are writing to let you know that we found your school to be satisfactory. This means that there are many things that the school does well, but there are things that need to be done to make it even better for you. You are lucky enough to be in a school where all of the staff and governors take good care of you and relationships are good. I know that you really value the school because you feel safe, are happy and you enjoy many extra activities. There are many good opportunities for you to appreciate spiritual, social and cultural experiences. Your personal development is good and we especially like the way this starts in the Nursery. We think the nursery is outstanding. We also think that those of you who do not find learning so easy are helped to make good

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

progress.Your headteacher runs the school smoothly, and with the other staff and governors, is keen to help you do even better. We were impressed by your good behaviour in most lessons and at playtime and delighted to find that you are doing so well in English and music. Well done for this and keep it up! So that you can learn even faster these are the things that your teachers need to do. Please help them by working as hard as you can.* Develop mathematics and science so that you do more investigative work* Help those of you who find learning easy to do more challenging activities, so that you can make even faster progress in mathematics and science. Yours sincerely Wendy Simmons Lead inspector 7 of 7 Inspection Report: English Martyrs Roman Catholic Primary School, 4 °5 May 2006

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