High Spen Primary School

Inspection Report High Spen Primary School

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108340 Unique Reference Number Gateshead LEA 277951 Inspection number 31 January 2006 to 1 February 2006 Inspection dates Mr Alastair Younger Reporting inspector

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

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Hugar Road School address Primary Type of school High Spen Community School category Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear 3 to 11 Age range of pupils 01207 542373 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01207 544871 Fax number 145 Number on roll Mrs Lynne Caffrey Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Jean Fisher Headteacher 1 June 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277951 31 January 2006 - 3 to 11 1 February 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 is a smaller than average primary school. It has 145 pupils on roll and a further 18 children attend the attached nursery. Pupils come from a wide range of backgrounds. Attainment on entry is very varied but below average for the authority. This reflects the working class heritage of the area. Nearly all pupils are white and British. A more than average number of families move into or leave the area each year. Almost a third of Year 6 pupils who took tests at the end of last year were not in the school at the end of Year 2. The school has a growing reputation for helping pupils with learning difficulties. In 2004 it was awarded the Quality Mark for teaching basic skills.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: High Spen Primary School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 2006

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Grade: 2

The school’s own evaluation that it is a good school is correct. It stands at the very heart of the community and is held in high esteem by parents, pupils and the local authority. You cannot visit the school without gaining the impression that it is a vibrant, happy place where pupils thrive and make good progress. Vivid displays celebrate pupils’ achievements and contribute enormously to the creation of a delightful environment for learning. Progress is good. Standards rose steadily after the last inspection until last year, when test results slipped, especially in mathematics. Close inspection of the reason for this reveals that the situation is not as worrying as first seems but it does mean that standards are satisfactory rather than good. Good teaching is the norm. This leads to pupils learning well from the start of the Foundation Stage. The curriculum is good and includes many exciting activities. Exceptional care and

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Grade: 2

guidance contribute to pupils’ outstanding personal development and well-being. It is especially effective in aiding the emotional development of children in the Foundation Stage, preparing them particularly well for entering Year 1. The school recognised that ‘every child matters’ long before the phrase became so well publicised. This is central to the school’s work and ensures that pupils leave as particularly well-adapted individuals with a zest for life. The school is in a healthy financial state. It gives good value for money and is well led and managed. Many improvements have been made since the last inspection and there is no reason to doubt that improvement will continue. not applicable

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards, particularly in mathematics, taking opportunities in other subjects to improve pupils’ numeracy.

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Grade: 2

Many pupils start school with below average prospects but most leave having made good progress and reaching a satisfactory standard. The best progress occurs in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Last year’s test results at the end of Year 6 showed that standards in English were slightly above average, the school’s targets were met and the pupils’ achievement was good. In mathematics, however, standards were below average. Some pupils leaving and others joining the school and some narrow misses in the tests were partly responsible for the school not meeting its targets. Prompt action taken by the school has improved the teaching of mathematics throughout the school. The pupils are making good progress in lessons in all classes and are well on course to meet this year’s targets. There is little evidence to suggest any difference in the performance of any group of pupils. 2 Inspection Report: High Spen Primary School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 2006

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Grade: 1

This is where the school excels. Pupils attend whenever they can, work hard and live life to the full. They are strongly encouraged to reflect on their own lives and helped to understand the views of others. This contributes enormously to their prospects of leaving school with bright futures ahead of them. Nearly all pupils behave exceptionally well. When they do not it is nearly always the result of personal crisis, linked to recognised individual difficulties. It is a measure of pupils’ excellent moral development that they understand when other pupils experience difficulty and do not make matters worse. Pupils are hugely sociable. They are polite, confident and friendly. The school is central and indispensable to the community. Local groups make extensive use of its facilities and pupils learn about the history and culture of the village and some of its notable characters. Pupils’ awareness of the importance of safety is demonstrated by

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Grade: 1

their sensible behaviour and consideration for other people. They also learn how to stay safe on the roads and how to avoid the dangers of bad habits. For each of the last eight years, recognition has been gained for promoting healthy lifestyles. Pupils are energetic. They get a good dose of physical exercise as part of the timetable and they play with abandon at breaks.

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Grade: 2

The quality of teaching is good. The enthusiasm and commitment of teachers are reflected in lively lessons and wonderful displays, which celebrate pupils’ achievements and help them to learn. Teachers make learning interesting and make good use of a wide range of good quality resources and support staff. There is little time for boredom to set in so pupils work hard and behave well. Teachers have a good understanding of pupils. A while ago it was recognised that work could be marked more constructively. The measures taken have resulted in pupils being given much clearer guidance as to where they are making mistakes and how they can improve their work. No problem with mathematics teaching had been identified last year. The school had received the Quality Mark for teaching basic skills and a Leading Teacher for mathematics was on the staff. Extra support with planning has since been given and there have been

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Grade: 2

demonstrations of good practice. The teaching of mathematics is now good. Homework is nearly always English or mathematics. A few parents would like a bit more variety to bring more enjoyment to learning and discovery at home. This seems a perfectly reasonable idea and could even lead to the freeing up of a bit more school time to promote learning in mathematics. 3 Inspection Report: High Spen Primary School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 2006

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good. An outstanding range of exciting activities, often with a local flavour or involving visitors, adds considerably to pupils’ enjoyment of learning. A strong programme of personal, health and social education complements a good focus on literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology. This gives good support to pupils’ prospects of future economic well-being. Good, imaginative changes are being made in the way other subjects are taught through project work. These are opening up better opportunities for pupils to see how different subjects relate to each other. There is a good opportunity here for the school to give more consideration as to how project work can contribute to raising numeracy standards. Good notice is taken of the needs of pupils with learning difficulties. Precise assessment helps with the preparation of work well suited to their ability and the directing of extra support

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Grade: 2

to help them to make good progress. Shared planning between the nursery and Foundation Stage classes makes sure that transfer between the two is smooth and at each successive stage this progression is carefully maintained.

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Grade: 1

These are outstanding. Staff ensure that pupils thrive in a safe environment. Potential risk in activities is carefully considered and supervision of pupils at all times in the day effectively ensures their safety. Academic progress, personal development and potential vulnerability to failure are carefully monitored. Where extra support is needed, individual plans show how it will be given and what other agencies might need to be involved. In Year 6, pupils on the borderline between levels of attainment are given ‘booster’ classes to help them achieve the higher level. Consultation with parents contributes to a strong, joint effort to raise standards. In a recent survey, every pupil said their views were listened to and that they were happy to share their worries with staff.

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Grade: 2

These are good. The headteacher has a sparkling vision of the school that pupils, parents and the community want and deserve. There is a determination to avoid creating a ‘hot house’ environment in which ever-higher academic standards are pursued at the expense of pupils’ happiness and development as well-rounded citizens. Last year’s setback, though, served as a reminder that it is important not to let the balance tip too far towards being a nice school rather than an effective one. It brought an immediate response, with extra support for teaching, an earlier start to ‘booster’ classes and a sharper focus on the assessment of investigative and problem solving skills. These measures are working well. Managers’ extensive awareness of pupils’ triumphs and tribulations, and their close consultation with pupils and parents give them a very clear view of how effective the school is. Rigorous monitoring of all aspects

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Grade: 2

of teaching and the curriculum contribute further to the process. Nearly all parents 4 Inspection Report: High Spen Primary School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 2006 express total confidence in managers. The good, supportive governing body is becoming increasingly involved in finding out for itself what goes on in school. Following concerns expressed by a parent, it is currently supporting improvement by reviewing the procedure for addressing complaints. Staff are given many, good opportunities to develop their skills and improve the effectiveness of their work. Good links are being forged with other schools. These contribute well to opening up new opportunities for pupils, such as using a secondary school laboratory, and also to staff development through the sharing of ideas and expertise. 5 Inspection Report: High Spen Primary School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 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: High Spen Primary School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 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 2 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 2 How well do learners achieve? NA 3 The standards 1 reached by learners

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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

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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 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 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 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 2 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 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

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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

Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0207 421 6800 F 0207 421 6707 Ofsted helpline 08456 404045 High Spen Primary School Hugar Road High Spen Rowlands Gill Tyne and Wear NE39 2BQ 2 February 2006 Dear Pupils I’m not in the least bit surprised that you like your school. So do I. My friend and I had a wonderful two days in your company. You made us very welcome and gave us a lot of ‘inside information’. Thanks for sparing time to talk to us, even at break times when there were more tempting alternatives. You are a great asset to the school and your parents should be proud of you. You behave well, work hard and give oldies, like me, great hope for the future. The school has a great headteacher and lots of good teachers. They make sure that other schools will look forward to your arrival when you have to leave High Spen. Did you know you were being watched? Nothing goes unnoticed, it’s creepy, but it means you are being extremely well looked after. I can see why

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

you enjoy school. There are lots of interesting things going on. I bet there are things you can tell your parents about the village that they didn’t know themselves. Your teachers were really disappointed when last year’s test results came out. Everyone had worked hard but the results, especially in maths, were disappointing. It’s up to you Year 6 pupils to set the record straight. We looked at your work and confidently expect you to do well this summer. Please prove us right. We’ve asked the school to pull out the stops to make sure you do. Your bit is to work hard and remember that every mark matters. All the best Alastair Younger (Lead inspector)

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