Blanford Mere Primary School

Inspection Report Blanford Mere Primary School

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103792 Unique Reference Number Dudley LEA 276993 Inspection number 7 November 2005 to 8 November 2005 Inspection dates Paul Sadler RISP Reporting inspector

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

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Mimosa Walk School address Primary Type of school Kingswinford Community School category West Midlands DY6 7EA 5 to 11 Age range of pupils 01384 818365 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01384 818366 Fax number 262 Number on roll Mr Allan Weaver Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Nikki Miller Headteacher 6 November 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 276993 7 November 2005 - 5 to 11 8 November 2005 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 three Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

Blanford Mere Primary School serves an area of mainly private housing on the edge of the West Midlands urban area. The area has average levels of socio-economic disadvantage. Pupils entering the school have broadly average skills and abilities. The proportion with learning difficulties and disabilities is below average although the number with statements of special need is average. The proportion of pupils of minority ethnic heritage is low and there are currently no pupils who do not speak English at home. Historically, the school has educated children from the travelling community, sometimes in quite large numbers, but the number of such children currently at the school is small.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Blanford Mere Primary School, 7 November 2005 to 8 November 2005

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Grade: 2

Inspectors agree with the school that its overall effectiveness is good, and that it provides good value for money. There are outstanding features, notably the care and guidance pupils receive and the extent to which staff know and respond to each pupil’s needs. As a result, pupils greatly enjoy their education. The schools’ partnership with parents is outstanding and the governors are responding to the need for more extended care by planning for after-school provision. This also reflects the very clear direction in which leaders are taking the development of the school. The school knows each child’s needs and challenges them to achieve their best, while responding well to individual circumstances, such as those of travellers and those with learning difficulties or disabilities. Attendance, which is satisfactory, could be improved further although the school is already taking action in this area. The school knows its strengths and

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Grade: 2

weaknesses well and is taking action to improve, for instance, pupils’ writing skills. The school has improved since the last inspection and undoubtedly has good capacity to make further improvements. Children are given a very good start through the ‘Squirrels’ induction programme and receive a good education in the Reception class, an improvement since the previous inspection.

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What the school should do to improve further

•work with parents to enable them to understand the importance of a continuous learning experience for pupils •build further on already good standards by taking forward existing work, for instance to improve writing.

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Grade: 2

Children make good progress in the Reception class, particularly in learning how to read and write and in their personal development. By the time they start Year 1, their skills in most areas of learning are slightly above those expected. Pupils make sound progress in Years 1 and 2. For the last few years, the school’s results at the end of Year 2 in reading, writing and mathematics have been just above the national average. The most recent results show good improvement in reading, indicating that staff training and the reorganisation of resources and the timetable for reading have been effective in raising standards. Pupils make good progress in Years 3 to 6. The school’s national test results in English, mathematics and science at the end of Year 6 have been above the national average for a number of years. Contributory factors to pupils’ good achievement are the very good systems for tracking pupils’ progress and the organisation of pupils in Years 3

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Grade: 2

to 5 into ability groups which help staff to be fully aware of what pupils need to do to improve. The school’s systems ensure that any underachievement is quickly identified 2 Inspection Report: Blanford Mere Primary School, 7 November 2005 to 8 November 2005 and rectified, and that good support is provided for pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities to enable them to make good progress. The school sets itself challenging targets. They act as a good stimulus for improvement.

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Grade: 2

Pupils’ personal development is good, with very strong features. The way in which pupils are introduced to school through the ‘Squirrels Club’ is excellent as is the transition of Year 6 pupils to their secondary schools. Pupils’ enjoyment of school is outstanding. Behaviour is always good and the independence and social skills shown by the Reception and Infant pupils are remarkable. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. There are good opportunities for pupils to reflect upon their own and others’ feelings and beliefs. A strong moral code is promoted through consistent high expectations and use of rewards. Nevertheless, pupils understand the consequences of misbehaviour. Awareness of different cultures is raised through events and visitors; however; more could be done to prepare pupils for life in a multicultural society. Attendance is average. Action has been taken to improve it but the number who take holidays during school time is still

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Grade: 2

too high. Pupils’ views are listened to but there is as yet no school council to give pupils an early experience of democracy at work. Healthy living is promoted through a very good programme for pupils’ personal, social and health education. Pupils are encouraged to be active and they know about healthy diets. Unfortunately, this has yet to be fully adopted by all pupils. Chocolate, crisps and even sweets are eaten at playtime and lunchtime. Pupils make a very good contribution to the community. A recent activity raised funds to purchase 22 goats for people in Africa, the target having been two goats!

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Grade: 2

Inspectors agree with the school’s assessment that teaching is good. Teachers know the pupils well and this means that work is planned to meet their needs, for example by concentrating on reading patterns that the pupil finds difficult. The intensive start provided for the youngest children by the ‘Squirrels’ programme means that pupils’ strengths and weaknesses are known from the start. The school makes good use of individual and external expertise in its teaching. Examples include the skills of the physical education coordinator and of external expertise in music. A lesson in which the entire Year 2 class were taught to play the violin by a teacher from the local music service was outstanding. Teachers make good use of assessment. Test and other results are analysed by the deputy headteacher and the analysis is shared with staff. After consideration of other 3 Inspection Report: Blanford Mere Primary School, 7 November 2005 to 8 November 2005

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Grade: 2

factors affecting the child’s education, targets are set for individuals. These are very specific, for example ‘learn the effect of multiplying by 10 and 100 on place value’.

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Grade: 2

The school provides a good, balanced and well-planned curriculum which enables pupils to acquire a good range of key skills and develop real interest in subjects such as art and history. The curriculum is adapted well to meet the needs of pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities. Good emphasis is placed on raising pupils’ awareness of healthy lifestyles and safe practices. A particular strength is the very good range of extra-curricular and enrichment activities. Well-supported after-school clubs, visits to places of interest, visitors to the school, special events and subject focus weeks all contribute significantly to pupils’ enjoyment of school and add other dimensions to their learning. Opportunities to develop musical skills are outstanding. The school’s big band rehearsal indicated the depth of musical talent within the school.

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Grade: 1

The care, guidance and support provided is outstanding. Pupils feel safe and are not anxious about being bullied or harassed. They know that if they have any worries, these will be dealt with. Great care and attention is paid to concerns raised by parents about their children and this is reflected in the very high regard in which parents hold the school. An outstanding strength of the school is the attention paid to the welfare of every individual. Senior staff work with teachers to continually review the progress and needs of every child. Pupils are encouraged to work towards challenging targets in the classroom but great care is taken not to make them anxious about it. Parents are fully involved in this process. The systems to review the progress of pupils with disabilities or special educational needs are excellent. The care shown towards any pupils regarded as vulnerable and the support given to their families is another significant strength.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good and have outstanding features. The headteacher and governors have a clear vision for the school at the heart of the community. The new Foundation Stage building, paid for entirely by the school, was planned to provide a better base for the younger children. In the long term it may also be used for a nursery because ‘it’s what parents want’. There is also a commitment to develop the full range of the child’s personality, for instance through residential experiences, music and the arts. Resources are used effectively and with imagination to raise standards, and the school provides good value for money. 4 Inspection Report: Blanford Mere Primary School, 7 November 2005 to 8 November 2005 The school’s performance is monitored effectively by senior staff, and appropriate targets are set. On the few occasions when these are not met, the reason is identified and action is taken to put this right, as with the project to improve older pupils’ writing

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Grade: 2

skills. Staff and governors are committed to helping all pupils to achieve and the support given to those who are vulnerable is reflected in the outstanding care, guidance and support that all pupils receive. The school knows its strengths and weaknesses well and is starting to analyse these more rigorously with the involvement of parents, governors and other stakeholders. Effective action has been taken since the last inspection, for instance to improve provision for the Reception class. Overall, improvement has been good and the school also has good capacity to improve further. 5 Inspection Report: Blanford Mere Primary School, 7 November 2005 to 8 November 2005 .

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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: Blanford Mere Primary School, 7 November 2005 to 8 November 2005

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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 2 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 2 How well do learners achieve? NA 2 The standards 1 reached by learners

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Achievement and standards

NA 2 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners NA 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

NA 2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 2 The behaviour of learners NA 3 The attendance of learners NA 1 How well learners enjoy their education NA 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices NA 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles NA 1 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community NA 2 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 2 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 2 How effectively and efficiently resources are deployed to achieve value for money NA 2 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

The inspectors who visited your school very much enjoyed talking and listening to you and seeing your work. We want to thank you for spending the time to do this. This letter is to tell you what we thought of your school and how it can be even better. We think Blanford Mere is a good primary school because: •lessons are interesting and help you to do well and reach good standards. •the teachers tell you how to improve your work and they set sensible targets. •there are lots of exciting things to do such as music and trips out of school. •you behave well and there is very little bullying. •the teachers get on very well with your parents. •you are very well cared for and are taught how to stay healthy and safe. •you care about people in the world and do something to help, such as raising money to buy 22 goats for people in Africa. We think the school could improve even more if: •all the pupils came to school everyday except when they are ill. •teachers carry on helping

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

you to make your work even better, such as by improving your writing skills.

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