Anston Park Junior School

Inspection Report Anston Park Junior School

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106896 Unique Reference Number Rotherham LEA 277652 Inspection number 25 January 2006 to 26 January 2006 Inspection dates Mrs Jane Hughes 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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Park Avenue School address Primary Type of school North Anston Community School category Sheffield, South Yorkshire S25 2QZ 7 to 11 Age range of pupils

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01909 550 779 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01909 561 091 Fax number 279 Number on roll Mrs S Waterfield Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mr D Holland Headteacher 8 November 1999 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277652 25 January 2006 - 7 to 11 26 January 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 three additional inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is a larger than average school. For the last three years, the school has experienced significant disruptions to staffing. These are now largely resolved. The local area is less disadvantaged than the average nationally and fewer children than average are known to be eligible for free school meals. There are very few minority ethnic children, all of whom speak fluent English. More children than average have a statement of special educational need. Pupils are aware of the benefits of healthy eating and the school has achieved the Healthy Schools and Investors in People awards.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Anston Park Junior School, 25 January 2006 to 26 January 2006

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Grade: 3

This satisfactory and improving school has some good features as it emerges from a period of staff turbulence, which culminated in disaffection among a significant proportion of last year's Year 6 children. Standards are now broadly average and showing signs of further improvement after three years of decline. Children achieve better now because permanent, experienced teachers are in post. All groups of children make satisfactory progress. Behavioural issues exhibited by a proportion of last year's leavers have been resolved and no longer present a barrier to learning. Children behave well and are eager to learn. Their above average attendance continues. They mature well and relish taking responsibility for aspects of school life. Teaching and learning are continuing to improve. Nevertheless, some marking does not focus clearly enough on what children need to do next to improve and teachers do not always

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Grade: 3

draw enough attention to untidy presentation. The widening curriculum incorporates an interesting variety of activities to spark learners' enthusiasm. Staff care for pupils well. Senior leaders have been overly positive when evaluating some aspects of the school's recent performance but have identified the right development priorities. Governors and staff work closely to improve the school's performance. They have successfully addressed many of the issues raised by the previous inspection. The school is well set to improve further and provides satisfactory value for money.

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What the school should do to improve further

Focus on raising children's achievement by: • ensuring children's targets more accurately match their individual needs • achieving greater consistency in the quality of teachers' marking so children know exactly what they need to do next to improve their work • ensuring children take more care in the presentation of their work.

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Grade: 3

Inspectors agree with the school's view that achievement and standards are satisfactory. Children's achievement had declined over the past three years and was particularly disappointing in the 2005 writing tests. Pupils enter the school in Year 3 with just above average standards. In 2005 children's attainment by the end of Year 6 was broadly average, which represented inadequate progress. This decline in standards and achievement began in 2003 due to staffing disruptions which destabilised a previously successful school team. The disruption made it very difficult for the school to ensure all pupils were achieving as well as they should and to tackle the poor behaviour and lack of concentration of a significant number of pupils who were identified as a cause for concern on entering the school. 2 Inspection Report: Anston Park Junior School, 25 January 2006 to 26 January 2006 However, improvements to staffing stability, quality of teaching and behaviour

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Grade: 3

management systems mean that behaviour is now much improved. As a result, children are now making adequate progress and are all achieving satisfactorily. Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and those with particular gifts and talents make similar rates of progress.

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Grade: 2

Children's personal development and well-being are good. Children are attentive and most try their best. They are proud of their school and enjoy the varied activities on offer, as seen in their good levels of attendance. They develop good habits for their later lives. Children behave well and live up to adults' high expectations. Children say they feel safe at school, 'it's friendly here' - a view endorsed by most parents. The happy, purposeful atmosphere is built on mutual respect and strong relationships. Children enjoy the newly enlarged playground, along with input from the lunchtime sports' coordinator. Health initiatives such as a new lunch menu are greeted with caution but children are gradually becoming more used to the 'funny tastes'. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. Their social values are particularly well developed, as shown in their wholehearted involvement in the

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Grade: 2

work of the school council. This is an effective vehicle for change and helps children to learn the value of teamwork. Children respect the needs of others. Their artwork, music and generosity of spirit help them to become increasingly sensitive members of the community. They are familiar with their local heritage and are learning more about what it means to live in a modern, multicultural society.

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Grade: 3

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. For three years, the school experienced a series of staffing difficulties which resulted in declining achievement and standards. The school has already begun to regain lost ground, having largely resolved its previous problems. Through rigorous monitoring by senior managers there is now a consistent quality of provision and pupils learn satisfactorily. The best lessons are well planned and lively. They maintain children's interest well. Children say how much they like the way teachers use role play and discussion to make learning more exciting. Teachers link experiences to make learning more purposeful. For example, Year 6 children really entered into the spirit of the Middle Ages through their writing after visiting Connisborough Castle. Teachers mark children's work thoughtfully. The best marking, seen mainly in Year 6, spells out for children exactly what they need to do next to improve. However, this

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Grade: 3

quality of marking is not consistent throughout the school. Group targets are set according to need but there is an absence of individual targets to speed up progress. 3 Inspection Report: Anston Park Junior School, 25 January 2006 to 26 January 2006 Although the presentation of children's work improves as they mature, it is satisfactory at best by Year 6. Teachers have not given enough focus to this aspect of children's work. Skilful teaching assistants help children with additional learning needs to achieve as well as expected in relation to their particular targets.

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Grade: 3

Inspectors find the curriculum satisfactory, although the school views it as good. The curriculum is relevant, with strengths in respect to enrichment and an emphasis on healthy lifestyles. It meets statutory requirements; provision for English and mathematics is sound. Children enjoy their work. The school is building upon this and widening the curriculum to give children more opportunities to make links between subjects. Opportunities to develop learners' multicultural understanding through experiences such as arts' weeks and inter school links remain limited. Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities receive appropriate support. Opportunities for children to develop skills that prepare them for the world of work and to contribute to the community are satisfactory. A wide range of additional activities enhances work in the classroom and contributes to children's academic and personal development.

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Grade: 3

There are established links with several European countries and good use is made of residential and local visits. These are enhanced by a good range of extra curricular activities involving all teachers and many children. Thriving outdoor provision is impressive and features specialist areas for environmental work, sport and reflection.

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Grade: 3

The school judges this aspect to be good although inspectors find it satisfactory. Staff work tirelessly to provide a safe and secure environment. Children acknowledge the levels of care shown to them, saying they feel safe and very well looked after. Child protection procedures are robust. There are risk assessments on premises and prior to outings. Children are aware of potential hazards and strictly observe the rules about use of restricted areas of the school grounds, such as the pond. Children with additional needs, particularly those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, are given the necessary personal, emotional and academic support to help them achieve as well as others. Those children with particular gifts and talents are supported in classrooms and through effective local authority schemes. Whilst the school clearly cares well for its pupils, academic guidance is not quite as strong. Systems for tracking and monitoring academic performance are no better than

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Grade: 3

satisfactory and provide an accurate overview of progress throughout the school. The school does not make effective use of setting individual academic targets to help pupils improve more quickly. 4 Inspection Report: Anston Park Junior School, 25 January 2006 to 26 January 2006

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are judged satisfactory and improving by inspectors, although the school views them as good. An effective staff team has been re-established and is already enabling children to make faster progress. Senior leaders, governors and staff show strong commitment to improving outcomes for all learners. They are particularly successful in ensuring effective personal development for children who blossom in the supportive school environment. The headteacher has worked diligently during a taxing period in the school's history to compensate for prolonged staff medical absence, key staff changes and significant problems of disaffection from some Year 6 children last year. The school has correctly identified key priorities and effective strategies are already in place to promote improvement. However, the full effect of these initiatives has yet to be seen. Subject coordinators are enthusiastic, experienced and are leading improvement in

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Grade: 3

their subjects. New, well-qualified staff contribute effectively to the school's drive to raise achievement. The school demonstrates a clear capacity to improve. Parents say their opinions are valued. They are generally very happy with the school. Well established links are nurtured with other learning partners such as the local secondary school. Governors are supportive and have a satisfactory knowledge of the school's strengths and areas to develop. They ensure the school meets legal requirements. Resources are deployed effectively and the recently extended accommodation benefits all learners. 5 Inspection Report: Anston Park Junior School, 25 January 2006 to 26 January 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: Anston Park Junior School, 25 January 2006 to 26 January 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 3 How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? NA NA The quality and standards in foundation stage NA 3 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 3 How well do learners achieve? NA 3 The standards 1 reached by learners

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Achievement and standards

NA 3 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners NA 3 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 2 The attendance of learners NA 2 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 3 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community NA 3 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 3 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 3 How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education NA 3 How effectively performance is monitored, evaluated and improved to meet challenging targets, through quality assurance and self-review NA 3 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can NA 3 How effectively and efficiently resources are deployed to achieve value for money NA 3 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

We were delighted to meet you during our recent visit to your school. Thank you for being so friendly and telling us all about your life in school and all you do. The things we particularly liked were: - you behave well and work hard for your teachers - you learn lots about healthy eating and keeping fit - the new lunchtime playground activities give you lots more fun - your headteacher and all the staff take good care of you and keep you safe - the school council helps you all to contribute to your own community. This is what we have asked your headteacher and teachers to do now to make it even better: - continue with the work to raise the standards you achieve by the time you leave Year 6 - give each of you targets so you have a clearer idea of what you need to do next to improve your work - make sure that the teachers' marking in your books shows you how to improve each piece of work in some way - help you to make your work neater and better presented.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

We are sure that you and your teachers can do these things. We hope you continue to work really hard and enjoy school.

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