Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Roehampton

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Inspection report

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101050 Unique Reference Number Wandsworth Local Authority 276449 Inspection number 6 °7 July 2006 Inspection dates Lily Evans 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 Michael Gibbon Chair Miss Frances Hardy Not previously inspected Date of previous school inspection Roehampton Lane School address Roehampton London SW15 5NX

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02088767074 Telephone number 02088762545 Fax number

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3 °11 Age group 6 °7 July 2006 Inspection dates 276449 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 an average sized Catholic nursery and primary school. The pupils' socio-economic circumstances are well below average. Movement of pupils in and out of the school is extremely high. Three-quarters of pupils come from minority ethnic groups. The proportion of pupils who do not speak English as their first language is six times the national average. The number of pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities is twice the national average. A third of pupils are entitled to free school meals. Staff working at the school speak the five main languages.

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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: Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, 6 °7 July 2006

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What the school should do to improve further

* Raise standards and achievement in speaking, listening and writing skills in all subjects.

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Grade:

Teaching and learning are good with the result that pupils enjoy learning and achieve well. Pupils' behaviour is well managed. All staff use praise and rewards for achievement which encourages and motivates pupils. In the best lessons, effective planning means tasks are well matched to pupils' previous attainment and, in English and mathematics, pupils know what their learning targets are. In outstanding lessons the teaching is vibrant, so that pupils of all abilities make excellent progress. Teachers use interactive whiteboards and microphones well to give a clear sound quality and illustrated explanations. This is followed by effective questioning to check learning, meet the needs of hearing impaired pupils and enable English language learners to progress well. Pupils' responses tend to be brief because of their poor language skills. Teachers' planning does not indicate opportunities for practising speaking skills

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Grade:

and there is insufficient emphasis on for example, demonstrating spoken language. Teachers are ably supported by proficient assistants, teachers in training and a specialist teacher who helps pupils who are learning English as an additional language. Pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities have well targeted support. Teachers make effective use of a range of strategies to breakdown barriers to learning. In one lesson, pupils wrote a poem as a whole class before discussing ideas in groups and settling down to individual writing. With support they were able to produce very good results.

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Grade:

The curriculum is good. This is because it is carefully planned and monitored to meet the needs of pupils of all abilities, including the more able, those with learning difficulties and those for whom English is an additional language. Mixed age classes are matched suitably to enable pupils to have appropriately paced learning. Analysis of test data has been used to adapt the curriculum and teaching, and successfully raise standards and achievement. Examples of this are in mental mathematics, writing skills and science investigation. There is currently insufficient planning of speaking, listening and writing opportunities across different subjects to accelerate pupils' learning. The curriculum for personal, social and health education and citizenship is good. Many pupils enjoy a good range of out of school hours' activities. The curriculum is brought to life by visitors to school such as story tellers and a lady who came to talk about her

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Grade:

4 of 7 Inspection Report: Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, 6 °7 July 2006 experiences of World War II. Visits to museums, farms and theatres make the curriculum stimulating. Information and communication technology (ICT) is used well to enrich learning across different subjects.

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Grade:

The school's care for pupils is outstanding and academic guidance is good. Every pupil's individual needs are recognised and met very effectively from an extensive network of additional professional care from a range of agencies. The learning mentor is an especially valuable addition to the care team in the school. The school cultivates a warm, friendly and caring environment that ensures that bullying is rare and pupils feel confident that they will be looked after. A school council member said, andquot;People care about you a lotandquot;. This promotes pupils personal development very well. Child protection and risk assessment arrangements are outstanding. Efficient use of assessment information to help pupils to improve their work is good. Teachers mark and comment on pupils' work encouragingly but they do not consistently tell them what they need to do to further improve their work. Pupils know their targets for improvement in

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Grade:

English and mathematics although they are not yet involved in setting them. Pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities have clear education plans with achievable, regularly monitored targets. Support for pupils who speak English as an additional language is well judged and as a result they make good and, sometimes, very good progress.

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Grade:

5 of 7 Inspection Report: Sacred Heart Catholic 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: Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, 6 °7 July 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Pupils Following our visit to your school, Ms. Singh, Dr. Ball and I would like to thank all of you, and your teachers for your help during the inspection. We enjoyed seeing you at work in your classrooms and talking to you at playtimes and lunchtimes. We think Sacred Heart Primary is a good school.These are the things we most liked: * The headteacher and deputy headteacher lead your school very well.* You behave well, work hard and enjoy lessons and playtimes.* You have good relationships with your teachers and teaching assistants.* You feel safe and happy in school, and the adults care for you very well.* You get a good start in the Nursery and do well year by year.* You are becoming more successful in national tests at the end of Year 6.* The teaching at your school is good and some is outstanding.* You understand the importance of having lots of exercise and eating the right sorts of things (though you might not always do this).

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

We have asked your teachers to:* Plan for you to practise your speaking, listening skills and writing in all your subjects. Yours sincerely Lily Evans Lead Inspector 7 of 7 Inspection Report: Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, 6 °7 July 2006

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