St Paulinus Catholic Primary School

107753 Unique Reference Number Kirklees LEA 277835 Inspection number 21 June 2006 to 22 June 2006 Inspection dates Mrs Elisabeth Linley HMI Reporting inspector

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

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Temple Road School address Primary Type of school Dewsbury Voluntary aided School category West Yorkshire WF13 3QE 3 to 11 Age range of pupils 01924 325330 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01924 325331 Fax number 411 Number on roll Fr N Hird Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs R Drake Headteacher 27 September 1999 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277835 21 June 2006 - 3 to 11 22 June 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 one of Her Majesty's Inspectors and two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

St Paulinus Catholic Primary School serves the parishes of St Paulinus, St Aidan's and St Thomas More and is much bigger than the average size primary school. The school has a Nursery for 26 children, which forms an integral part of the Early Years Unit. All the nursery children remain in the Early Years Unit as they move into their Reception year and, at that time, more children join the Reception classes so that numbers almost double. When children start school, most have skills that meet expectations for their age across all the areas of learning. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds and none have English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is well below average. Although an average proportion of pupils have statements of special educational need, the proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average. Over recent years, the school has changed its senior leadership structure to replace

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Description of the school

the position of deputy headteacher with two assistant headteachers. Other appointments have been made, some of which are temporary, and some of the staff are new to teaching. The governing body is also new, having been reconstituted in September 2005.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Paulinus Catholic Primary School, Dewsbury, 21 June 2006 to 22 June 2006

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Grade: 3

St Paulinus Catholic Primary School provides a satisfactory quality of education with some good and outstanding features. At the time of the last inspection, many significant weaknesses were identified and the school has since worked hard to ensure good improvement. Its success is evident, for example, in the curriculum which is now good, and in the improved provision and achievement in mathematics and information and communication technology (ICT). The quality of provision in the Foundation Stage is outstanding. Overall, pupils now make satisfactory progress in Key Stages 1 and 2. However, the school rightly recognises there is still room for improvement; standards in science are not high enough and more able pupils do not consistently achieve their best in all subjects. Pupils' spiritual development is outstanding and parents particularly value the excellent care and welfare that their children receive which they say is

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Grade: 3

'fantastic'. Leadership and management have improved and are satisfactory overall. With the positive guidance of the headteacher, good leadership is provided by the senior leadership team. They have an accurate view of the school's strengths and areas for development. Monitoring of provision and pupils' progress is thorough in English and mathematics but is in an early stage of development in science. The evaluation of data from assessment, however, is not rigorous enough to determine the progress made by some groups of pupils who are more able or gifted and talented. The school now provides satisfactory value for money and, given the good improvement made overall, is well placed to improve further.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards in science. • Improve the analysis and evaluation of data from assessment to gauge whether enough improvement is taking place for all groups of pupils. • Improve the teachers' use of assessment in lessons so that they challenge the pupils consistently to do their best, particularly those who are more able.

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Grade: 3

Pupils' achievement is satisfactory. Children in the Foundation Stage achieve well, particularly in their personal, social and emotional development. This is because of the outstanding quality of provision in this area of learning. By the end of the Reception year the majority of children meet the levels expected for their age, and many exceed them. The last inspection identified significant underachievement, particularly in Key Stage 1. This trend has now been reversed. In the 2005 national tests for pupils in Year 2, standards were broadly average. In the Year 6 national tests, standards were also broadly average but were better than those in the previous year, particularly in English 2 Inspection Report: St Paulinus Catholic Primary School, Dewsbury, 21 June 2006 to 22 June 2006 and mathematics. In science, however, pupils did not attain well at the higher levels and the school is aware that standards in science are not good enough. In addition,

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Grade: 3

pupils who are more able do not consistently achieve as well as they can. This is because some teachers do not always use what they know about their achievement to ensure that planned activities challenge them.

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Grade: 2

Pupil's personal development and well-being are good with some outstanding features. Pupils say they are very happy at school and they feel highly valued by all the staff. Pupils make a positive contribution to the school community. They take on responsibilities, for example, as buddies to other pupils. Members of the school council are very proud of their plans for a vegetable garden, a project that is set to enhance pupils' exceptional understanding of healthy lifestyles. Pupils enjoy opportunities to support the wider community through partnerships with local schools and fundraising for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD). This and their understanding of the impact of their efforts on others, prepares them effectively for their future economic well-being. Pupils' attendance is in line with the national average and their punctuality is good. Their attitudes and behaviour in lessons and around the school are mostly good. Pupils'

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Grade: 2

spiritual development is excellent. An outstanding and spiritually uplifting start to the school day was observed in a Year 6 classroom in which all pupils played a significant role. Pupils' moral, social and cultural awareness is equally very well developed, for example, by the 'super learning day', and through the strong Catholic ethos that underpins all aspects of the school's work.

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Grade: 3

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. A key reason why pupils' progress is often only satisfactory is that there is insufficient challenge for those pupils who are more able. Where teaching is good, the work is better matched to pupils' abilities, although even here on some occasions a minority of pupils are not stretched enough to apply their skills. Overall, effective questioning helps to promote pupils' thinking and pupils are encouraged to work effectively with partners and within groups to aid their learning. All members of staff promote caring relationships with pupils and teaching assistants are used effectively, particularly to support pupils who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Teachers set targets for pupils; all have group targets and some also have individual targets. There is inconsistency in how teachers use their marking to help pupils know how they can improve their work.

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Grade: 3

3 Inspection Report: St Paulinus Catholic Primary School, Dewsbury, 21 June 2006 to 22 June 2006

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good. Outstanding provision in the Early Years Unit focuses clearly on learning through play, both indoors and out. Throughout school, a positive emphasis on the development of pupils' skills in literacy and numeracy aids their achievement. Modern foreign language lessons are taught and, during the inspection, it was a delight to hear pupils in Year 1 answering the register in French. Provision for ICT has greatly improved since the last inspection and is now good. Pupils also benefit from a rich and varied programme of activities that include residential visits for pupils in Years 5 and 6 and lots of visits out of school. Themed days and 'super learning days' also bring enjoyment into learning. One pupil summed up the feelings of many when she remarked, 'there is a wide and exciting variety of after-school activities and clubs for our enjoyment'. Although, there is good provision for pupils with identified learning

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Grade: 2

difficulties and/or disabilities, curriculum provision for gifted and talented pupils is in the early stages of development.

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Grade: 2

The quality of care, support and guidance is good. The school includes a very wide spectrum of pupils, some of whom have complex needs and low levels of self-esteem. The pastoral and emotional support provided for pupils through planned communication, exercise and friendship groups is excellent. The provision for pupils' personal, social and health education is particularly effective in developing pupils' self-confidence and promoting understanding of their own health and safety. Child protection systems and health and safety procedures are effective; guidance for pupils' academic progress is satisfactory. Pupils' progress is tracked, recorded and analysed carefully in English and mathematics but procedures are still being developed in science. Also, assessment information about pupils who are more able or gifted and talented is not used well enough to ensure that they are guided effectively in their learning.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. The headteacher provides good leadership and staff appreciate the way in which she has empowered them to take on new responsibilities. As a result, the assistant headteachers and subject coordinators are effective in their roles as leaders. The management of the school is satisfactory and developing. Satisfactory monitoring procedures identify where action is needed to raise standards, as in science, where the school has recognised the need to track pupils' progress effectively so that challenging targets are set to secure improvement. Evaluation of the school's work is beginning to determine the effectiveness of action taken. This good practice is evident in the school's focus to improve the quality of pupils' writing where innovative approaches are being used by teachers. Evaluation 4 Inspection Report: St Paulinus Catholic Primary School, Dewsbury, 21 June 2006 to 22 June 2006

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Grade: 3

of assessment data, however, is not rigorous enough to determine the progress made by groups of pupils who are more able or who are gifted and talented. Good partnerships are established with external agencies and parents. The school also has a positive working relationship with the governing body. Governors are supportive and know the importance of holding the school to account. However, the vast majority are new to office and are still developing in their roles. Financial management of the school is effective and supports planned developments for improvement, for example, as in ICT. The school is well placed to improve further and provides satisfactory value for money. 5 Inspection Report: St Paulinus Catholic Primary School, Dewsbury, 21 June 2006 to 22 June 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 Paulinus Catholic Primary School, Dewsbury, 21 June 2006 to 22 June 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 1 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 1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 2 The behaviour of learners NA 3 The attendance of learners NA 2 How well learners enjoy their education NA 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices NA 1 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles NA 2 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 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 3 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 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

As you know, we visited your school recently and we were pleased to talk to you about your school. These are some of the good things we found out. - You enjoy coming to school and the activities you do. - You behave well and have good attitudes to learning. - You enjoy opportunities to think about your faith and about the needs of others. - There are many wonderful opportunities provided for the youngest children in the Early Years Unit. - Everyone in school tries very hard indeed to keep you safe and to care for you and they make good links with other people to help them. There are a few things that need to be better and we have asked everyone in school to make them happen. We hope you will work hard to help them. - All the people who work with you in school are going to help you do better in science. - Some of you find work a bit easy and we are asking your teachers to make sure you all have the right work so that everyone can do really well.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

- Your headteacher and all the staff are going to keep a closer eye on how you are getting on and the progress you are making. Thank you very much for making us so welcome when we visited you. We wish you all the best for the future.

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