St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wetherby

108020 Unique Reference Number Leeds LEA 277883 Inspection number 12 July 2006 to 13 July 2006 Inspection dates Mrs Rosemary Rodger 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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Barley Fields Road School address Primary Type of school Wetherby Voluntary aided School category West Yorkshire LS22 6PR 3 to 11 Age range of pupils 01937 582163 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01937 581924 Fax number 235 Number on roll Mrs Ann Gannon Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Linda Wardle Headteacher 6 November 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277883 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 two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This average sized primary school is situated in the small town of Wetherby, although some pupils travel in from surrounding small villages. The area is socially and economically advantaged, which is reflected in the very small number of pupils eligible for free school meals. Most pupils are of White British heritage and below average numbers of pupils have learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The leader of the Foundation Stage was absent during the inspection.

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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 Catholic Primary School, Wetherby, 12 July 2006 to 13 July 2006

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Grade: 1

St Joseph's Catholic primary school has much to be proud of and accurately reflects its mission statement 'to show concern and to offer support to anyone who needs it' and 'work and play together'. Pupils comment, 'We are pushed to the best of our abilities,' and 'Everyone has time for us here'. Parents are very positive. 'Through my daughter's schooling she is able to meet any challenge she may meet.' The inspection team wholeheartedly support these views. The headteacher's judgement of the school's effectiveness is unduly modest: this is an outstanding school that gives excellent value for money. It has high expectations of its pupils and provides an excellent education for them. Outstanding leadership and management by the headteacher and other staff steer the school very well. Improvements since the last inspection have been exceptional and there is an outstanding capacity to improve. Pupils maintain exceptionally and consistently high standards throughout the school.

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Grade: 1

The capability of pupils is exceptionally well reflected in their maturity and assured ability to talk. Pupils thoroughly enjoy school and their personal development and well-being are excellently fostered through high quality care, guidance and support. All aspects of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are exceptionally well fostered, especially an understanding of moral values. Pupils truly value the importance of giving respect and taking responsibilities. Pupils achieve so well, because of the excellent environment in which they work, outstanding teaching and the unerring encouragement and care provided by the headteacher. 'Learning is fun,' say the pupils and the curriculum is very effectively enriched by the use of the outdoor environment to promote and extend learning. Exceptionally high quality art and design work is often based on detailed observations of the school environment. The artistic, literacy, mathematical and scientific talents

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Grade: 1

of pupils are celebrated in the high quality displays and brilliantly reflect the caption displayed in the entrance hall,' He gave me eyes so I could see the wonders of his world. ' The quality and standards in the Foundation Stage are good overall, but the school recognises that learning in the Reception class does not consistently build securely on work done in the Nursery.

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What the school should do to improve further

Ensure provision in the Reception class builds on the good learning in the Nursery.

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Grade: 1

From an above average start, pupils achieve well in the Foundation Stage overall, although limited coordination between the classes means that some children's language and literacy skills do not improve as much as the overall high level of development. The standards achieved in the end of Year 2 national assessment results are exceptionally high in reading, writing and mathematics and reflect the outstanding 2 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wetherby, 12 July 2006 to 13 July 2006 teaching and learning in Years 1 and 2. Pupils are confident and accurate writers and write fluent accounts of the Fire of London, for example. These exceptionally high standards are maintained throughout Key Stage 2 and seen in the Year 6 national tests for English, mathematics and science. These results reflect high quality teaching and the school's success in enabling its pupils to meet challenging targets.

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Grade: 1

The school is not complacent, and teachers continually check to ensure that all pupils are making expected progress and introduce several intervention strategies for any making insufficient progress. All pupils, irrespective of their gender, ability or learning difficulty and/or disability, make outstanding progress. As a result, standards and achievement have remained consistently very high over recent years.

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Grade: 1

Pupils really enjoy coming to school and show it in their above average attendance and punctuality. They find all their lessons and other activities interesting and exciting. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding develops very effectively through an extensive range of activities. They gain good knowledge of other religions, as well as a strong understanding of Christianity. Exceptional behaviour and respect for others permeate the school. This means that pupils become increasingly self-confident, well-behaved and enthusiastic learners. There are excellent relationships, both between adults and pupils, and between the pupils. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are fully included in all aspects of the school's life. Pupils say they feel safe in school and trust their teachers and other adults. They have a strong voice in the new school council. Pupils understand the need to stay healthy, responding well

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Grade: 1

to the excellent school strategies by drinking water regularly and choosing healthy snacks. They understand the benefits of exercise and healthy eating, saying they will 'grow big muscles' if they eat healthily. They develop excellent skills to prepare them for their future lives.

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Grade: 1

The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding. Teachers have high expectations and provide work for all pupils that is challenging. Questioning is probing and relationships are excellent. Lesson plans are detailed and take account of the wide age ranges in each class. Relationships are excellent. Teachers have well organised classrooms and effectively create a calm, orderly and stimulating environment in which pupils are well behaved and ready to learn. Teachers use the school's good assessment systems very effectively. In Year 2, there are excellent systems to ensure pupils are closely involved in assessing their own progress, although these are less developed elsewhere in the school. However, teachers know pupils very well individually, enabling them to tailor work effectively to meet the needs of the most and least able. Good 3 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wetherby, 12 July 2006 to 13 July 2006

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Grade: 1

use is made of support staff, particularly in ensuring those pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make good progress with the other pupils. Teaching and learning in the Foundation Stage are good overall, although greater links between the classes would aid children's learning in the Reception class. The contribution of the outdoor environment to learning is developing well. For example, a visit to the woods led to some careful drawings of leaves.

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Grade: 1

The curriculum meets pupils' needs and interests, and enables them to make excellent progress. The basic curriculum is very well enriched by visits and visitors, and by activities, such as sports coaching sessions, as provided by the Leeds Rhinos. Residential and other visits give an added dimension to class work, such as that to Middleton Outdoor Centre for Year 6 pupils. Visitors, such as the Young Shakespeare Company, bring rich experiences that are much enjoyed by pupils. The Foundation Stage curriculum is good; there is good use of the outdoor area to extend learning in the Nursery and Reception class. The school has identified a need to improve the continuity between the Nursery and the Reception class and has begun action to further enhance children's learning.

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Grade: 1

There are outstanding systems to promote pupils' health and safety, with robust child protection procedures that are well understood by everyone. Appropriate training has been given to all staff. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are very well cared for, given well considered guidance, and excellently supported, so as to achieve their full potential. The school has very close links with its partner secondary school, and Year 6 pupils spoke enthusiastically about their forthcoming visit to the school. The caring ethos of the school is seen in many aspects of its daily life, such as the 'buddy' system, where older pupils take care of those in the younger classes during playtime. They say they enjoy doing this, and understand the benefits to themselves as well as to the younger pupils.

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Grade: 1

Leadership and management are outstanding, and generally, parents are very supportive of the school and its leadership. 'The Head works wonders,' said one. The foundation of the success is the headteacher's outstanding leadership, which relentlessly drives the pursuit of high standards. She knows exactly where she wants the school to go and articulates her vision clearly to others. Her extensive monitoring ensures she has a firm hold on what is happening in all aspects of school. All senior staff and subject leaders clearly know their roles in the overall leadership and management of the school, and they carry out these responsibilities very well. Governors, too, know the school 4 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wetherby, 12 July 2006 to 13 July 2006 well and provide good quality support, ensuring it fulfils all statutory responsibilities. The school provides excellent value for money. Improvements since the last inspection

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Grade: 1

have been exceptional and there is an outstanding capacity to improve. 5 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wetherby, 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 Catholic Primary School, Wetherby, 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 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 1 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

I would like to thank you all for making the visit of Mr Hardwicke and me to your school so very enjoyable. We have said that you have a brilliant school. You all played a big part in helping us make that judgement because you are so polite and have so much to talk about. What we liked about your school - You work very hard and achieve very well in all aspects of school work, including reading, writing, mathematics and science. - You have sketched some outstanding observational drawings of natural objects in the environment. - You behave excellently and older children are very sensible, caring and responsible. - Your teachers make your work interesting, so you told us, and learning is always fun. What we would like to see improved Your teachers work very hard and they are well supported by your headteacher too. There is very little that your school needs to do to make it better. - We have asked the school to implement plans to help children in Reception to build even

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

better on their learning in Nursery. Good luck to all of you. We hope you continue to enjoy your time at St Joseph's.

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