St Joseph's RC Primary School

Inspection Report St Joseph's RC Primary School

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106254 Unique Reference Number Tameside LEA 277520 Inspection number 12 July 2006 to 13 July 2006 Inspection dates Mr Robert Robinson 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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Market Street School address Primary Type of school Mossley Voluntary aided School category Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire OL5 0ES 3 to 11 Age range of pupils

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01457 832360 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01457 832360 Fax number 134 Number on roll Mr Michael Fleming Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs S Partington Headteacher 4 December 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277520 12 July 2006 - 3 to 11 13 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 an Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

This is a smaller than average-sized primary school. Almost all children are of White British heritage. Children attending the school come from mixed socio-economic areas. Attainment on entry to the Nursery varies from year to year though it is generally about average. The proportion of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Joseph's RC Primary School, 12 July 2006 to 13 July 2006

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Grade: 1

'I would recommend this school to anyone'. 'A great place to be educated'.'An excellent school.highly motivated staff'. These parental comments sum up parents' highly positive view of the school. They also support the inspection findings that this is an outstanding school. The school's evaluation that it is good is far too modest. Standards are high and children achieve very well. This is because the leadership and management of the headteacher and senior staff are outstanding. The quality of teaching is outstanding because it consistently enables children to make very good progress in their learning. The curriculum is effective with a strong emphasis on developing children's basic skills with very good enrichment through visits, visitors and out of school activities. Provision in the Foundation Stage is good, although the accommodation limits outdoor education in the Nursery and Reception. Children's

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Grade: 1

personal development is outstanding. Children really enjoy coming to school and they respond very well to the good care, guidance and support they receive. Their behaviour and attitudes to learning are excellent. The school provides excellent value for money. It has improved since the last inspection and has the capacity to continue to do so because of the strengths in the leadership and management.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Improve the accommodation for children in the Nursery and Reception.

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Grade: 1

The achievement of all groups of children is outstanding. Standards in Year 6 and Year 2 are significantly above average, as has been the case since the last inspection. Children make very good progress because the school is led and managed exceptionally well. Attainment on entry to the Nursery varies from year to year because of the small number of children in each age group. Generally standards on entry are about average. Children make good progress in the Foundation Stage and reach at least expected levels in all the areas of learning by the end of Reception. In Years 1 and 2, children build well on their previous learning. By the end of Year 2, standards are above average as was the case in the national tests in 2005. In Years 3 to 6, children make very good progress so that they attain highly in English, mathematics and science by the end of Year 6. In the 2005 national tests, standards were above average. Standards of the present group of children in Year 6 are

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Grade: 1

exceptionally high in each of these subjects. Results of the 2006 national tests show that all pupils, including children previously identified as having learning difficulties, gained the level expected of their age in English, mathematics and science and a very 2 Inspection Report: St Joseph's RC Primary School, 12 July 2006 to 13 July 2006 high proportion achieved the higher level. The school's very demanding targets for these children were exceeded.

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Grade: 1

Children's personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is outstanding. Behaviour is excellent. Children enjoy learning, attend regularly, work extremely well together and take great pride in their school and each other. Children are very well mannered and polite. They are confident and constructively and willingly express their opinions. The school council consider that St Joseph's is 'a happy and safe place where education is good'. Relationships between children and also with staff are excellent. Children gain a good understanding of their own and other cultures. Their views are actively sought and acted upon. Older children take on responsibilities to help in the smooth running of the school and show great care and consideration for others. For example, they take turns to be playground prefects and look after younger children. Children appreciate the wide range of extra-curricular

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Grade: 1

clubs. They are proud of their sporting achievement and the number of cups and trophies they have won. Children know how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They are very well prepared for future learning because of their very good acquisition of basic skills and their outstanding attitudes to learning.

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Grade: 1

The quality of teaching in the lessons seen was consistently good or better leading to children making outstanding progress during the time they are at the school. Lessons are planned very well and the organisation of learning is most effective. Very good support is provided to all children. Teaching assistants help children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities very well to take a full part in lessons. Teachers and other staff manage children very well and, as a result, they are extremely well behaved. Children are very responsive and keen to succeed, particularly in challenging investigations. Literacy skills are practised well in other subjects. Information and communication technology, such as the use of interactive whiteboards and classroom computers, enhances interest in learning and speeds up progress. Teachers' quick-fire questioning ensures a brisk pace of learning. Very good relationships between children

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Grade: 1

and teachers encourage children to answer confidently. Occasionally, children work unnecessarily in gender groups. The marking of children's work is thorough and clearly celebrates good achievement and suggests how they can improve. The introduction of individual targets in writing has benefited children's learning. 3 Inspection Report: St Joseph's RC Primary School, 12 July 2006 to 13 July 2006

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Grade: 2

The good curriculum effectively meets the needs and promotes the interest of all children. A strong emphasis is given to developing literacy and numeracy as well as skills in information and communication technology. Topics linked to art and design, design and technology, geography and history enrich enjoyment of learning. Provision in the Foundation Stage is good as the curriculum is carefully planned to develop children's skills in all areas of learning. Best possible use is made of the inadequate outdoor area. The needs of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are met very well, resulting in many catching up and reaching nationally expected standards by the end of Year 6. The curriculum is enriched by visitors and educational visits, including a residential, as well as by a very good range of extra-curricular activities. Children's maturity and understanding of healthy lifestyles are developed well through

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Grade: 2

effective emphasis on personal, social and emotional development and citizenship education.

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Grade: 2

Care, guidance and support for children are good. Child protection procedures are robust and all members of staff receive regular training. Risk assessments ensure that health and safety matters are generally well organised. Members of staff know the children very well so pastoral guidance is very effective. Good systems are in place to monitor children's academic progress throughout the school. The tracking of children's progress is thorough from entry to the Nursery to the end of Year 6. Targets are set for individuals and these are shared with children and parents. Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are identified at an early stage and their progress is monitored closely. Links with outside agencies are very effective, especially for those children with disabilities. Children state they feel safe and happy in school.

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Grade: 1

The leadership and management of the headteacher and other senior staff are outstanding. The headteacher and deputy headteacher work closely together to provide the best possible education for the children. The headteacher has built a high performing team and monitors their performance closely. Members of staff new to the school are inducted very well. The deputy headteacher shows a very good example to others in the quality of his teaching and his commitment to out of school activities. Senior managers constantly strive to improve provision at the school. Their evaluation of the school's performance is well thought out and reasonably accurate. Judgements are modest because the senior management do not sit back on their laurels but seek to do better. For example, in the 2005 national tests, although standards in English were significantly above average, senior managers were not satisfied with the results

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Grade: 1

in writing. An action plan was prepared and the English coordinator and deputy 4 Inspection Report: St Joseph's RC Primary School, 12 July 2006 to 13 July 2006 headteacher sought out suitable training to gain additional help to improve the teaching of writing. Following the training, the information was passed on to other staff and an action plan agreed. The initiatives were highly successful, resulting in much higher standards in the recent national tests. Governance is good. The governors are kept very well informed about all aspects of the school. Some governors work alongside staff to develop their understanding of the school. Others assist staff by organising extra-curricular activities such as a French club. They have recognised the need for further training on their roles and responsibilities following significant changes of governors. They are involved actively in school improvement planning such as developing the outdoor facilities for children

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Grade: 1

in the Foundation Stage. 5 Inspection Report: St Joseph's RC Primary School, 12 July 2006 to 13 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 Joseph's RC Primary School, 12 July 2006 to 13 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 2 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 3 The attendance of learners NA 1 How well learners enjoy their education NA 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices NA 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles NA 2 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 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 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

Thank you for welcoming me to your school. I enjoyed my visit and I want to share with you what I think about your school. What we liked most about your school - You are taught very well so that you make very good progress in your learning and achieve high standards. - You are very polite and friendly. - You behave extremely well and work hard in lessons and all get on so well together. - You really enjoy school. - The headteacher, staff and governors look after you well and know how to make your school better. What we have asked your school to do now - Improve the outdoor area for children in the Nursery and Reception. I appreciated talking to you about your work and watching you learn. I wish you well for the future.

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