St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Leigh

Inspection Report St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Leigh

p.1

106501 Unique Reference Number Wigan LEA 277576 Inspection number 26 June 2006 to 27 June 2006 Inspection dates Mr Frank Carruthers CfBT Lead Inspector Reporting inspector

p.1

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

p.1

Turner Street School address Primary Type of school Leigh Voluntary aided School category Lancashire WN7 2DE 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01942 606395 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01942 609499 Fax number 250 Number on roll Mrs A Blenkinship Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Anne McNally Headteacher 15 January 2001 Date of previous inspection

p.1

Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277576 26 June 2006 - 4 to 11 27 June 2006 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Introduction

The inspection was carried out by three Additional Inspectors.

p.3

Description of the school

This average sized Catholic primary school draws pupils from a wider area than its locality and from mixed social backgrounds. There are very few pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and the proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is average. The attainment of the children on entry to the Reception class varies from year to year between average and below average. The attainment of the current Reception class on entry was average. The school has gained the local authority's Early Years Quality Mark and is working towards the Healthy Schools Award.

p.3

Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Leigh, 26 June 2006 to 27 June 2006

p.3

Grade: 2

The school provides a good education for the pupils, whose personal development and academic achievement are good. Standards in Year 6 are above average in English and mathematics and average in science. The school's ethos supports the pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development exceptionally well. The quality of teaching and learning is good and systems to assess the pupils' progress are used exceptionally well to promote the pupils' learning. Lessons are planned well to cater for the needs of pupils of different levels of attainment. However, teachers' questions in oral lessons do not always challenge the most able pupils and marking is not consistently geared to how pupils' work can improve. There is a rich curriculum and the provision in the Reception class is good. Provision for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, and care, guidance and support for all pupils, are good.

p.4

Grade: 2

Through the outstanding example set by the headteacher, supported well by the committed deputy headteacher, the staff have a shared vision of, and expectation for, the school. Leadership and management are good and the governing body carries out its role well. The school's self-evaluation procedures are excellent and its views of its performance match closely the judgements in this inspection report. The school has made significant improvement since the last inspection, especially in creating a very attractive school from one of its original buildings, improving provision and addressing issues from the last inspection. Its capacity to develop further is very good. The cost of educating a pupil at the school is below average and the school gives good value for money.

p.4

What the school should do to improve further

• Focus attention on teachers' questioning skills in lessons and their use of marking in order to challenge the pupils' learning and raise standards further.

p.4

Grade: 2

Pupils achieve well. Attainment on entry to the Reception class varies from year to year between average and below average. Children make good progress and in the current year group, whose attainment on entry was average, the majority have reached the goals expected of them by the end of the year. Pupils make good progress in Key Stage 1 and standards are above average in the current Year 2. In recent years, standards have risen steadily in reading, writing and mathematics. Progress continues to be good in current Key Stage 2 classes. However, this has not been the case in recent years, mainly because of variations in the quality of teaching, which the school acknowledged in its self-evaluation and has now rectified. Standards in Year 6 have been average in English and mathematics and well below average in science in recent years. Because of improvements to subject teaching and better tracking of pupils' progress, which is now good, they are now above average in English

p.4

Grade: 2

2 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Leigh, 26 June 2006 to 27 June 2006 and mathematics and average in science. The school is on target to exceed its challenging targets. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and others from vulnerable backgrounds or learning English as an additional language make good progress thanks to the good provision. Pupils also achieve very well in the creative and performing arts.

p.4

Grade: 2

Pupils' personal development and well-being are good. The pupils really enjoy lessons and are secure and happy; this is shown in their good behaviour and attendance. When the behaviour of a small number of pupils becomes unsatisfactory, staff deal with it well. Exclusions are rare. Parents and pupils appreciate the substantial improvements that have made the school so attractive and vibrant. 'Our school is really lovely now', one pupil said. One excellent feature is the pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Collective worship promotes the school's caring ethos very well. Pupils learn about their own and other cultures in their lessons and this is seen in vibrant displays of work and the many opportunities pupils are given to take part in school and public performances. There are many opportunities for pupils to take part in community activities and this also has a positive impact on their motivation and

p.5

Grade: 2

confidence. The school council is an effective strategy for expressing pupils' views. Pupils are encouraged to be fit and to drink water, and fruit is available at snack time. The school pays attention to the development of thinking skills and teamwork and, with its good provision in basic skills, these help to prepare the pupils well for the future.

p.5

Grade: 2

The quality of teaching and learning is good. The school viewed teaching and learning as being only satisfactory in recent times but that it was showing improvement during the current year. Inspectors agree with this analysis. Strengths of the teaching are the teachers' management of the pupils and their very good organisational skills. Teachers have good and, at times, outstanding expertise with computers and interactive whiteboards, using them very well to enhance pupils' learning. Where teaching is most effective, the pace of lessons is good and the staff plan activities that challenge well the various ability groups in classes. At times, however, teachers' questions in oral lessons do not always challenge the more able pupils. There remain the vestiges of underachievement in some older classes, which the school is doing well to overcome through good intervention strategies and support from teaching assistants. In recent

p.5

Grade: 2

years, the school has developed very good procedures to assess pupils' progress. Staff are using them exceptionally well to track all pupils' progress, set targets and put strategies in place to help underperforming pupils. Pupils' awareness of what they 3 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Leigh, 26 June 2006 to 27 June 2006 need to do next in their work is improving, though marking of pupils' work is not consistently focused on this aspect of learning.

p.5

Grade: 2

The curriculum is good. It is imaginatively planned to capture the pupils' interest and to broaden their understanding of the wider world. There is good provision for literacy and numeracy and a balance between knowledge and skills. Themed weeks and topics, often linked to the creative arts, bring subject areas together in vivid programmes of study. Visiting artists support creativity through ceramics and other media and have raised pupils' aspirations and confidence. Good use of information and communication technology and French in Key Stage 2 and a good range of after-school clubs, many with a sporting element, enrich the curriculum. The Foundation Stage curriculum is well planned and useful planning links are being made between the Reception year and Year 1 to ensure continuity. Good provision for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities ensures they are taught the full curriculum. This is achieved through

p.6

Grade: 2

effective support in class and appropriately designed learning tasks. Extension activities provide challenge for the most able.

p.6

Grade: 2

Care, guidance and support of pupils are good. Staff know the pupils and their families well. The learning mentor has made a significant contribution to the development of relationships with parents and pupils, promoting good attendance and behaviour and increasing the pupils' say in whole-school decision making. Procedures and practices for all aspects of child protection and health and safety are robust. Improvements to the premises have significantly enhanced the learning environment and safety. Arrangements for children starting in the Reception class are good and a strong relationship is forged with parents. As a result, children settle quickly into school routines. Pupils with extra needs or vulnerable pupils are well supported. One parent commented, 'We are fully supported through school. I now see light at the end of the tunnel.' The headteacher and deputy headteacher have introduced very good

p.6

Grade: 2

procedures that monitor and track pupils' achievements and personal development.

p.6

Grade: 2

Leadership and management of the school are good. An effective leadership team has been created under the outstanding leadership of the dynamic and energetic headteacher. The school's ethos is extremely caring and supportive of all its members and reflects well the school's Catholic character. The inclusion of pupils with additional needs into the school community is managed well. There is a clear vision for school improvement based on a highly rigorous analysis of the school's ongoing work and the pupils' needs. Robust and effective monitoring systems are in place and the school 4 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Leigh, 26 June 2006 to 27 June 2006 has the capacity to support continued improvement. Subject leaders are beginning to make an effective contribution to the school's drive to raise standards. The governing body gives dedicated support to the school and is closely involved with

p.6

Grade: 2

all aspects of school life. Governors, many of them long serving, have good awareness of issues around progress and attainment and challenge the senior leadership team well. They know how the school should plan to move on to the next stage in its programme for improvement. Radical action to improve the school environment has resulted in the creation of modernised school premises that provide a positive climate for learning. The funds available to the school have been managed well to achieve this. This year's carry forward sum, once building costs have been paid, is broadly average. Communications between school and home are very good, with regular informative newsletters and surveys of parents' views so that they have a voice in school development. 5 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Leigh, 26 June 2006 to 27 June 2006 .

p.7

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 Catholic Primary School Leigh, 26 June 2006 to 27 June 2006

p.8

Overall

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

p.9

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

p.9

Achievement and standards

NA 2 How well do learners achieve? NA 3 The standards 1 reached by learners

p.9

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

p.9

learners?

NA 1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 2 The behaviour of learners NA 2 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 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

p.9

needs and interests of learners?

NA 2 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

p.9

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.

p.9

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 1 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

p.10

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

p.10

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

p.10

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

p.10

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

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Thank you very much for your help when we inspected your school. Please pass on our thanks to the other children we met and spoke to while we were at school. We enjoyed our visit very much. Now we want to share with you what we thought about your school. There are many things in your school that you can feel very proud of, for instance: - we were very impressed with how lovely your new school building is and how well you're looking after it - staff take good care of you all and teach you well - your attitude to your school work is good and it is clear that you really enjoy school - we were impressed with how well you are doing in music, singing, art and sports - staff provide you with great opportunities to enjoy activities after school and to go on trips. To make the school even better, we want the staff to make sure they ask you challenging questions in lessons. We want them to help you to learn even better by sharing with you how

p.11