St Mary's RC Primary School

Inspection Report St Mary's RC Primary School

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105250 Unique Reference Number Bolton LEA 277325 Inspection number 14 November 2005 to 15 November 2005 Inspection dates Mr John Heap CfBT Lead Inspector Reporting inspector

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

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Victoria Road School address Primary Type of school Horwich Voluntary aided School category Bolton, Lancashire BL6 6EP 5 to 11 Age range of pupils 01204 333625 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01204 333626 Fax number 248 Number on roll Father Jones Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Claire Massingham Headteacher 13 November 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277325 14 November 2005 - 5 to 11 15 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 two additional inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is an average-sized primary school with a below average proportion of children entitled to free school meals or with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Most are from white British families; others are from minority ethnic heritages, but very few are learning English as an additional language. A very small group of children is looked after by the local authority. Attainment on entry is below average. Plans for the improvement of accommodation in the Foundation Stage are in place and building work is imminent.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Mary's RC Primary School, 14 November 2005 to 15 November 2005

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Grade: 2

This is a good school, with some outstanding features, providing good value for money. Inspectors agree largely with the school's self-evaluation, but think personal development is outstanding. Progress in the Foundation Stage is satisfactory. It could be even better if expectations were more ambitious. By the end of Year 2 children are above average because their rate of progress increases from Year 1. There are well above average standards by the end of Year 6 and children achieve well to reach them. Most children learn well, but lack opportunities to sharpen their skills in writing. Teachers' marking does not yet always provide enough advice about what to do next, so children lack a measure of individual guidance. Those children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, who are learning English as an additional language or are looked after by the local authority progress well due to the personalised help they

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Grade: 2

are given. One parent summed up the views of many by observing that, "the school provides a lovely balance of academic and personal education: every child really does matter." This balance is achieved by making sure that good teaching provides interesting things for children to do and that they are cared for effectively. These strengths are produced by good leadership and management. The school has improved well since its last inspection and is set to make good progress in the future because areas for improvement are identified wisely. Moreover, there are outstanding links with groups in the community and a school abroad that enhance children's learning.

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What the school should do to improve further

Raise standards in writing by: • increasing the quality and amount of writing across the full range of subjects • ensuring marking tells children the progress they are making towards their individual targets. Improve progress in the Foundation Stage by using assessment information to set challenging targets, particularly for the highest attaining children.

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Grade: 2

Achievement is good and standards are well above average by the end of Year 6. Many children start the Foundation Stage with a distinct lack of experience in writing. Progress is sound, but attainment is still slightly below the expected levels by the end of the year. Expectations for most children in Reception are apt, but challenge provided for those capable of higher attainment lacks bite and they could do better. The above average standards by the end of Year 2 demonstrate the quick progress made by children in Years 1 and 2, but even here writing lags behind reading and mathematics. Too few children in Year 2 reach the higher levels in writing. Children capitalise on 2 Inspection Report: St Mary's RC Primary School, 14 November 2005 to 15 November 2005 this good achievement and reach well above average standards by the end of Year 6. Achievement in all subjects including English is good, but writing is still the relative

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Grade: 2

weakness in an otherwise positive picture. Standards in information and communication technology (ICT) are above average. Children in Year 6 can, for example, produce visually exciting multi-media presentations. Those who need extra help of any kind make consistently good progress because their needs are identified clearly and they receive the right kind of assistance.

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Grade: 1

Personal development and well-being, including spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. Children enjoy school greatly and this is reflected in their above average attendance. Their knowledge and understanding of the diverse world in which they live has improved greatly since the school's last inspection. An exemplary partnership with a school in India has played a major role in broadening children's horizons. Furthermore, residential visits give them a superb taste of communal living that accelerates learning about how to get on with other people. Attitudes to school and work, behaviour and relationships are excellent. The generally good progress in basic skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT equips them well for future learning and the world of work. One Year 2 child echoed the sentiments of other children in stating, "I like school because everyone is friendly and helpful". They all

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Grade: 1

agree that they learn in a safe and healthy environment. Knowledge about a healthy lifestyle is widespread. The school helps greatly in this respect to the great appreciation of parents. The profile of sport and other physical activity is high because there are many links with local clubs, facilities and agencies. Thus the school is well on the way to achieve the national Activemark Gold award.

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Grade: 2

Good teaching produces good learning in most classes. Children who need special help and attention are taught well. Teachers and support staff are very sensitive to their specific needs. Teaching is satisfactory in the Reception class, but the information about children's learning is not always used well enough to establish the right level of challenge. Elsewhere, children learn well in lessons because knowledgeable teaching plans activities well and resources are chosen to make learning interesting. The successful atmosphere in classrooms is enlivened by excellent relationships. Many useful links are made between subjects to add meaning to tasks, but writing is not used effectively enough as a tool for communication in subjects such as history and geography. Most children could do better in this respect, particularly higher attainers. There are some highly creative teaching methods used. For example, a stage was

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Grade: 2

erected in a Year 1 classroom, decked out with twinkling lights and a microphone for 3 Inspection Report: St Mary's RC Primary School, 14 November 2005 to 15 November 2005 children to use. This magical atmosphere inspired children to make rapid progress in expressing themselves. Teachers mark children's work regularly, and give advice orally about possible improvements. Children lack targets to work towards in their writing that would help them to progress faster.

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Grade: 2

The good curriculum meets all statutory requirements. Basic skills are developed well through the many relevant and interesting activities. The curriculum in English, mathematics and science has been improved now that it is directed at children who are grouped by attainment. For example, lower attaining children are taught in smaller groups with the right level of challenge. Furthermore, after-school study support and homework clubs promote good working habits. Learning is enriched by lessons in French and Spanish and a range of visits and visitors. The programme is packed with interesting activities that develop personal skills. Residential visits are particularly effective at boosting academic and social development. Children's health and safety are of paramount importance, so regular lessons are given about a range of topics such as drugs awareness. Enterprise is encouraged and fund raising events organised by children on the school council has enabled new playground

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Grade: 2

The school provides good care. A close eye is kept on children's behaviour, attendance and personal needs, so potential difficulties are overcome. Children are confident that there will always be a listening ear for them. Teachers know their children well and use professional help, from outside agencies, effectively when the need arises. The monitoring of children's work and achievement contributes well to the good teaching found in Years 1 to 6. The setting of personalised targets for children in mathematics provides good guidance. This system is having a positive effect on learning and the school rightly intends to extend it. For example, children in the Foundation Stage lack this kind of clear guidance as do children, throughout the school, in their writing. Procedures for safeguarding the children are good. Arrangements for child protection are in place and followed well. Parents welcome being involved in their children's

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Grade: 2

education and this collaboration helps to facilitate learning.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good. Parents endorse this view wholeheartedly. The headteacher sets a clear direction and is successfully leading the school towards further success. Self-evaluation is mostly accurate and canvasses the views of staff, parents and children. Morale is high and teamwork is effective. Senior leaders work closely with the headteacher and are particularly effective at raising standards and ensuring 4 Inspection Report: St Mary's RC Primary School, 14 November 2005 to 15 November 2005 that all the children are cared for well. They lead strongly in areas such as monitoring, tracking progress and supporting colleagues. All are heavily involved in teaching and this helps them gain a deep knowledge and understanding of important issues. Resources are used well to ensure good achievement. For example, the teaching assistants are used well for children who need extra help in learning.

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Grade: 2

Improvements have been marked in the higher standards in Year 6, greater provision for multicultural development and the use of tracking to check children's achievements. Moreover, the school is well placed to improve further. Planning is detailed, far reaching and focused on current priorities. So, the Foundation Stage is soon to get a purpose-built area and more assistance in making sure that children progress well. The effective governing body plays a full part. It is a knowledgeable group that benefits from regular and detailed reports from staff on a very wide range of matters. Financial management is good and the school successfully seeks value for money in all its dealings. The Foundation Stage curriculum has been constrained by inadequacies in the building. Prudent budgeting has set aside funds to be used in the new Foundation Stage and this is a priority for improvement. 5 Inspection Report: St Mary's RC Primary School, 14 November 2005 to 15 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: St Mary's RC Primary School, 14 November 2005 to 15 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 3 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 1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 1 The behaviour of learners NA 2 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 2 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 2 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 2 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 really enjoyed being in your good school this week. It was a privilege and a pleasure for us to work alongside you and the staff of the school. We were delighted that many of you wished to talk with us and we were impressed by the courtesy and help you provided. What we really liked about your school: - your outstanding behaviour and attitude to work - the excellent relationships between the children and with the adults in the school - the way that you are learning about different cultures and lifestyles in this country - the good progress that you make in learning about English, mathematics and science, particularly in Years 1 to 6 - the good teaching, particularly in Years 1 to 6 - the good care and guidance you get - the way that Mrs Massingham and her senior colleagues run the school well. We have asked your teachers to: - help you make the quality of your writing better. You can all be very helpful by making sure

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

that you do your best written work in all the subjects, not just in English. Read teachers' comments in your books very carefully and try really hard to reach the targets they are setting for you. The skills that you learn now will be very important to you when you move to secondary school and later to work - make sure that children in Reception make even more progress than they do at present. The inspection team wishes you good fortune for the future.

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