St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School

Inspection Report St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School

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102910 Unique Reference Number Richmond Upon Thames LEA LEA 276793 Inspection number 10 July 2006 to 11 July 2006 Inspection dates Sheila Nolan AI Reporting inspector

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This inspection was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Queen's Road School address Primary Type of school Richmond Voluntary aided School category TW10 6HN 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 020 8940 3015 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 020 8332 0986 Fax number 217 Number on roll Reverend P Mathias Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Ms C T Brett Headteacher 27 November 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 276793 10 July 2006 - 4 to 11 11 July 2006 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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

Saint Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School, situated in the Archdiocese of Southwark, serves families from a wide geographical area. Pupils come mainly from White European backgrounds with close to a third having a home language other than English. Few pupils are eligible for free school meals. Attainment on entry is slightly above average. Pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities or with statements of special educational need account for a lower than usual proportion of the school population. The school has enjoyed stable leadership over many years and is heavily oversubscribed.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School, 10 July 2006 to 11 July 2006

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Grade: 1

'I cannot recommend the school and its teaching staff highly enough', commented a parent. Saint Elizabeth's is an outstandingly effective school of which staff, parents and pupils are rightly proud. The excellent leadership of the headteacher, very well supported by the deputy and other staff, ensures the school evaluates its work incisively and accurately. Governors, who challenge the school exceptionally well, concur wholeheartedly with the inspection judgement. High standards have been maintained year-on-year with results in the top five percent of schools nationally in 2005. Provisional results for 2006 indicate even further improvement with around three quarters of pupils reaching the highest available levels. From a slightly above average base in the reception year, pupils make good progress towards the expected learning goals. By the end of Year 2, standards are above average. Progress accelerates thereafter and pupils achieve very well by the end of Year 6

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Grade: 1

because of rigorous tracking and carefully managed learning support. Consistently good or better teaching and the high priority given to care, guidance and support are major factors in the school's success as is pupils' outstanding personal development. Parents' aspirations and willingness to contribute to all aspects of school life also play a significant role. The school recognises that its curriculum can be improved further by making more explicit the links between subject areas. This echoes pupils' views. They would like more opportunities to use their 'art and history' in other lessons. In sustaining high standards between successive inspections, the school has demonstrated its strong capacity to continue to improve. The last inspection identified a single issue for improvement; the school has addressed this very well and pupils are now involved in assessing their own learning. Value for money is outstanding.

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What the school should do to improve further

• plan cross-curricular links to increase opportunities for pupils to transfer knowledge, skills and understanding across subjects.

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Grade: 1

Pupils achieve standards that are much higher than those expected nationally, meeting the demanding targets set by the school. Well above average results in national tests have been sustained year-on-year. Dedicated leadership, shared community values and very strong parental support have all contributed to academic success. 'We succeed because we are ambitious for our pupils', reflected a middle leader. From a slightly above average starting point, children in the reception class make good progress towards expected learning goals. Progress in mathematical development is particularly strong for the current group although faster for boys than girls. Girls outperform boys in creative development. 2 Inspection Report: St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School, 10 July 2006 to 11 July 2006 Reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Year 2 are well above average. In 2005, pupils achieved well although some able pupils, particularly boys, did not reach their

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Grade: 1

ambitious targets in reading and mathematics. Progress accelerates between Years 3 and 6 for all groups of pupils because of very well-focused interventions to support learning. Year 6 achievement last year was outstanding. Over twice as many pupils as those nationally reached the highest levels in English and science. Provisional test results for 2006 indicate even higher performance by able pupils in English and mathematics.

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Grade: 1

Pupils' personal development is outstanding. They enjoy attending and work hard. 100 % attendance is not uncommon. 'The school is really welcoming with friendly teachers', noted Year 6. The school council enables pupils' views to be heard and they are rightly proud that their contributions helped redesign a school wall and acquire 'buddy benches'. Pupils feel very safe in school and in the small playgrounds. A useful zebra crossing on the drive helps remind them of road safety. Relationships with teachers and friends are positive and behaviour is excellent. Spiritual, moral, cultural and social development is outstanding. Assemblies provide frequent opportunities for prayer and reflection. Pupils show a sensitive awareness of customs and cultures other than their own, supported by interesting projects and displays. Most try to eat healthily and much appreciate the rewards for choosing a healthy lunch. They are keen to take on a wide range of responsibilities with younger pupils.

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Grade: 1

Their strong awareness of others less fortunate than themselves results in work for charities and collection activities such as 'mufti' days. Good attention to basic skills and 'real money' activities help pupils effectively prepare for their future economic well-being.

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Grade: 1

The pupils' work reflects consistently good teaching which is sometimes outstanding. This is evident in lessons and events during the inspection and supports the school's judgement of teaching and learning as 'very good'. Underpinning all lessons are warm working relationships and high expectations of behaviour and performance. Praise is used particularly effectively so that pupils are keen to learn and diligent in completing tasks. Pupils say that teachers make lessons enjoyable but make sure they learn what they should. This is because teachers plan especially well and do their best to match work carefully to individuals' needs. They encourage pupils to take control of learning through a range of strategies to help them assess their understanding, a notable improvement since the last inspection. 3 Inspection Report: St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School, 10 July 2006 to 11 July 2006 Information and communication technology is increasingly well used to engage pupils.

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Grade: 1

Reception children, for example, were much encouraged in designing a 'Goldilocks card' modelled through the use of technology.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good, and from Reception to Year 6 ensures that pupils make progress. It offers particular opportunities to enhance writing skills. The school recognises, however, that there is scope to increase the links between subjects so that pupils have more opportunties to transfer their talents and skills. A distinctive element of the curriculum is the focus days and weeks, such as arts week. These use the expertise of parents and specialists to enrich pupils' experience and provide snapshots into future careers. Personal, social and health educaton is carefully centred around 'Every Child Matters'. In the Foundation Stage, independent and well-resourced activities complement teacher-led sessions effectively. Enrichment activities beyond the school day are very varied. Pupils have good opportunities to learn three European languages, to benefit from specialist music tuition, to become a 'mad scientist', and

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Grade: 1

Care, guidance and support are outstanding throughout the school. Pupils are well known individually to staff and their personal development is carefully supported and monitored. Any concerns about vulnerable pupils are quickly followed up. Good liaison with external agencies underpins the sensitive care for the very few pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities. Procedures for child protection, health and safety, and risk assessment, are thorough. Pupils are quite sure that they can talk freely about problems with adults. Bullying is very rare but isolated incidents are followed up carefully. Academic monitoring is excellent and the careful tracking and support systems in Year 6 are now extended throughout the school. The school has evolved very helpful activities to involve pupils in assessing their own learning. Pupils have targets and are keenly aware of how well they are doing. Parents and children regularly review progress

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Grade: 1

with teachers both in traditional meetings and in the 'parents-pupils-teachers' daytime conferences.

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Grade: 1

Outstanding leadership and management are reflected in sustained high performance between successive inspections. The headteacher's challenging vision for improvement is supported very effectively by the deputy and class teachers. This gives the school a very clear sense of direction. Middle leaders are fully accountable for their teams and their impact is apparent in the quality of classroom practice and in pupils' fast progress. The small Foundation Stage team is well managed. Governance is exceptionally 4 Inspection Report: St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School, 10 July 2006 to 11 July 2006 effective. Well-informed, long-standing members are 'critical friends' and encourage the school to take on new tasks such as leading a primary learning network. There is a strong culture of self-evaluation. Excellent monitoring procedures ensure that governors and teachers have an accurate picture of strengths and weaknesses.

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Grade: 1

'We look hard at all we do and try to do it even better'. Parents' views are sought regularly. Designated volunteers ensure that communications between school and home run smoothly. 'The headteacher's door is open at any time' noted a parent. The overwhelming majority of parents support the school strongly and are pleased with the 'consistently good quality of pupils' learning experience'. A very few parents expressed individual concerns but these were not substantiated during the inspection. The single issue from the last inspection on involving pupils in the assessment of their work has been effectively implemented. The school has a robust capacity to improve further. It readily shares its vision for improvement in its work with the wider educational community. The school is well staffed. Unavoidable absences and changes are managed considerately. Accommodation, although cramped, is very well kept and imaginatively

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Grade: 1

managed. Good arrangements with nearby institutions supplement facilities for sport. The learning environment is colourful and stimulating. Value for money is outstanding. 5 Inspection Report: St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School, 10 July 2006 to 11 July 2006 .

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set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s

website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School, 10 July 2006 to 11 July 2006

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Overall

Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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learners?

NA 1 How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? NA 2 The quality and standards in foundation stage NA 1 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation NA Yes The capacity to make any necessary improvements NA Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection

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Achievement and standards

NA 1 How well do learners achieve? NA 1 The standards 1 reached by learners

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Achievement and standards

NA 1 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners NA 1 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

NA 1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 1 The behaviour of learners NA 1 The attendance of learners NA 1 How well learners enjoy their education NA 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices NA 1 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles NA 1 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community NA 1 How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

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needs and interests of learners?

NA 1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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needs and interests of learners?

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low.

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and supporting all learners?

NA 1 How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education NA 1 How effectively performance is monitored, evaluated and improved to meet challenging targets, through quality assurance and self-review NA 1 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can NA 1 How effectively and efficiently resources are deployed to achieve value for money NA 1 The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities NA Yes The adequacy and suitability of staff to ensure that learners are protected

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The extent to which schools enable learners to be healthy

Yes Learners are encouraged and enabled to eat and drink healthily Yes Learners are encouraged and enabled to take regular exercise Yes Learners are discouraged from smoking and substance abuse Yes Learners are educated about sexual health

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The extent to which providers ensure that learners stay safe

Yes Procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements Yes Risk assessment procedures and related staff training are in place Yes Action is taken to reduce anti-social behaviour, such as bullying and racism Yes Learners are taught about key risks and how to deal with them

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The extent to which learners make a positive contribution

Yes Learners are helped to develop stable, positive relationships Yes Learners, individually and collectively, participate in making decisions that affect them Yes Learners are encouraged to initiate, participate in and manage activities in school and the wider community

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The extent to which schools enable learners to achieve economic well-being

Yes There is provision to promote learners’ basic skills Yes Learners have opportunities to develop enterprise skills and work in teams NA Careers education and guidance is provided to all learners in key stage 3 and 4 and the sixth form NA Education for all learners aged 14–19 provides an understanding of employment and the economy

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Pupils You may recall that we inspected your school whilst you were rehearsing for a musical. Although you were all very busily engaged in class and other end-of-term activities, you welcomed us warmly. Thank you for your contributions to the inspection and for telling us how much you enjoy school. Those of you who are moving on to Year 7 were clearly thrilled by your latest test results and by your success in getting to the secondary schools of your choice. You and your parents are rightly proud of Saint Elizabeth's. The majority of you think it is excellent. So do we. The headteacher and staff are very ambitious for you. They make sure that you not only enjoy work but that you reach high standards in reading, writing, mathematics and science. There are many other things that are good about your school. You are very well looked after. Teachers know you all individually. They make sure you are safe, try to eat healthily

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

and contribute well to the community. Although your accommodation is a little cramped, you get good opportunities to exercise in nearby playing fields. Your classrooms are colourful and stimulating to help you learn. You also do your share to learn successfully. You behave very well, attend regularly and work hard. Above all, you judge your own progress in learning well. The school listens carefully to your views. You are spoilt for choice in clubs and other out-of-class activities. Interestingly, your school agrees with you that it could do more to encourage you to use your many talents in lots of different subjects. You mentioned you were particularly keen to do more art and history. To help in this your school plans to find ways of highlighting the links between your subjects. With best wishes for the future Sheila Nolan Lead Inspector

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