St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolOfsted inspection, 5 Apr 2006

Inspection Report St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School

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108400 Unique Reference Number Gateshead LEA 277965 Inspection number 4 April 2006 to 5 April 2006 Inspection dates Mr Keith Bardon Reporting inspector

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

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Old Fold Road School address Primary Type of school Gateshead Voluntary aided School category Tyne and Wear, NE10 0DJ 3 to 11 Age range of pupils 0191 4771909 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 0191 4789460 Fax number 103 Number on roll Mr Phil Cunningham Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Alan Murray Headteacher 1 November 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277965 4 April 2006 - 3 to 11 5 April 2006 Inspection Report: St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, 4 April 2006 to 5 April 2006

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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 an Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

This small primary school, which includes a support base for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, serves a community that is socially and economically deprived. Most children start school with attainment that is much lower than usual. About one in ten pupils is from a traveller family. A similar proportion of pupils are from a minority ethnic background, although all pupils speak English as their first language. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is high and almost one in ten has a statement of special educational need. A substantial number of pupils change schools part way through their primary education.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, 4 April 2006 to 5 April 2006

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Grade: 3

This is a satisfactory school working in very challenging circumstances. This evaluation is the same as the school’s evaluation of itself. Provision in the Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) is satisfactory, but many children do not reach the levels expected by the end of Reception. Pupils’ achievement and progress are satisfactory, but many find learning very difficult. Standards at the end of Year 2 and Year 6 are well below average, although they are rising. Teaching and learning are satisfactory but at times opportunities are missed to challenge pupils fully. Pupils’ personal development is satisfactory. They behave well, although younger pupils can get over-excited and this slows the rate at which they learn. Attendance has improved this school year but is still below average. The curriculum covers all the required subjects but is not lively enough to persuade the oldest pupils to contribute fully to lessons.

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Grade: 3

The school takes good care of its pupils and makes effective use of its links with other organisations to promote their well-being. Parents and pupils hold generally positive views of the school, but many parents do not work closely enough with the school to help their children to learn. Leadership and management are satisfactory. Managers collect a great deal of detailed information about the school and accurately identify the areas for improvement. The school has made steady progress since it was last inspected and its plans for the future are satisfactory. Governors have a realistic grasp of the issues facing the school and play an increasing role in monitoring its effectiveness. The school provides satisfactory value for money. not applicable

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What the school should do to improve further

Raise achievement and standards by: • providing all pupils with consistently good quality teaching and ensuring that they are constantly challenged by the work they are set • maintaining the drive to improve attendance and to involve parents fully in their children’s learning • enlivening the curriculum so that it interests and engages pupils all the way through to the end of Year 6.

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Grade: 3

Throughout the school, pupils’ achievement is satisfactory. Children make steady progress in the Foundation Stage class, although many are still well short of the standards expected when they move into Year 1. A high proportion of pupils in Years 1 to 6 have substantial learning difficulties and/or disabilities and they do not perform well in tests. Consequently the school’s standards in national tests are often well below average. Despite making steady gains in knowledge, understanding, and skills as they move through the school, by the end of Year 6 many pupils do not read as well as 2 Inspection Report: St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, 4 April 2006 to 5 April 2006 expected and their writing lacks style and flair. Their vocabulary is rather narrow and many have problems expressing themselves fully when they speak. Most know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide but find mathematical problems difficult to solve.

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Grade: 3

The school missed most of the targets it set for Year 6 pupils in 2005. The targets for 2006 are higher than the 2005 results. Standards are rising and Year 6 pupils are on track to achieve their targets. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including those in the support base and those from traveller families, make satisfactory progress.

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Grade: 3

Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is satisfactory. Most pupils say that they enjoy coming to school and learning new things but the attendance of some is poor. Behaviour is often good but pupils in Years 1 and 2 tend to get over-exuberant and interrupt the flow of the lesson. Attitudes to learning are satisfactory. Older pupils need regular encouragement to contribute to lessons. Pupils willingly take on responsibilities around school and cooperate well. Pupils of all ages develop a good understanding of the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet. Relationships are good and pupils feel safe and secure. The school works hard to raise pupils’ self-esteem. Pupils develop effective skills to help build good relationships but leave at the end of Year 6 with a narrow range of literacy and numeracy skills which puts them at a disadvantage for later life.

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Grade: 3

Children make good progress in their personal development in the Foundation Stage class. They learn to work and play with others and adapt well to school routines.

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are satisfactory and pupils make steady progress. Lessons are organised well and often contain a number of different activities which maintain pupils’ interest and concentration. However, the tasks pupils are given to do by themselves and the responses teachers expect during discussion do not always challenge pupils to think hard enough. Teachers ask well judged questions to draw pupils’ attention to important points and to increase their understanding. However, in an effort to get through everything they have planned, teachers sometimes miss interesting responses from the children. Despite teachers’ careful revision at the start of each lesson, many pupils have difficulty remembering what they have been taught previously, which slows their progress. The contribution made by teaching assistants varies, and is satisfactory overall. It is good in some lessons but less effective in others, depending

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Grade: 3

on how well and often they work closely with the pupils. Teaching and learning in the Foundation Stage are satisfactory, based on well planned lessons suited to the age of the children. Provision for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is satisfactory, and the teaching in the support base takes full account of pupils’ learning 3 Inspection Report: St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, 4 April 2006 to 5 April 2006 needs so that work is planned well to meet them. Teachers mark pupils’ work regularly but their comments do not always provide enough guidance on how pupils can improve their work.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum, including that provided for pupils in the support base, is satisfactory. Pupils study the full range of National Curriculum subjects, religious education and have the opportunity to learn French. The school is making a number of changes to enliven the curriculum, but the activities provided for pupils in Years 5 and 6 do not generate as much enthusiasm as those for younger pupils. Although sufficient lesson time is allocated to English and mathematics, there are occasions when the curriculum does not meet pupils’ literacy and numeracy needs well enough in other subjects. A carefully planned programme of personal, social and health education and citizenship supports pupils’ personal development and helps them to acquire important skills of how to get on with one another and to understand how to stay safe and healthy. The curriculum is enriched with a range of visits, visitors and extra-curricular activities

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Grade: 3

which pupils thoroughly enjoy. The curriculum in the Foundation Stage class is satisfactory and provides children with suitable experiences in all the required areas of learning.

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Grade: 2

Care, guidance and support for pupils are good. Effective procedures for risk assessment, health and safety and child protection provide a safe and secure environment. Pupils are confident that there is always someone they can talk to privately if they have a concern. A wide range of strategies are used to encourage good attendance and there has been some improvement of late, but more is needed to ensure that all pupils attend regularly. The school keeps detailed records of pupils’ academic progress and sets them clear targets to aim for. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities receive the support they need to participate fully in lessons and to make satisfactory progress. The school makes good use of outside agencies to help it to meet pupils’ differing needs. Although the school tries hard to involve parents in their children’s education, it has very limited success and this slows pupils’ rate of

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. The school has made steady improvement since it was last inspected, despite being without a deputy headteacher for most of that time. The vacancy, now filled, and the absence of other staff through illness have caused some problems, but thoughtful management has kept the disruption to pupils’ learning to a minimum and the school runs smoothly. Procedures for measuring how 4 Inspection Report: St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, 4 April 2006 to 5 April 2006 well the school is performing are well established. The school’s careful self-evaluation generates issues to be improved. Teachers are given a clear set of priorities for development and contribute effectively to the monitoring of progress. Recent changes to the governing body have strengthened its ability to help and support the school. However, systems that enable governors to monitor the work of the school for

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Grade: 3

themselves are new and governors rely heavily on information from the headteacher. The school has a very positive and inclusive ethos that helps pupils to develop a sense of self-worth and take a pride in their achievements. Parents and pupils are consulted regularly and the school takes due account of their views. However, despite its best efforts, the school has considerable difficulty in involving parents in their children’s education. Managers make good use of the support available from outside agencies and coordinate their contributions carefully to ensure that pupils and parents obtain maximum benefit. Financial management is satisfactory. 5 Inspection Report: St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, 4 April 2006 to 5 April 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 Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, 4 April 2006 to 5 April 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 3 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 4 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 3 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 2 The behaviour of learners NA 4 The attendance of learners NA 3 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 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 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 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

Nord Anglia Inspections Anglia House Carrs Road Cheadle Stockport SK8 2LA T 0161 491 4191 F 0161 491 9677 Ofsted helpline 08456 404045 The School Council St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic VA Primary School Old Fold Road Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE10 0DJ 06 April 2006 Dear Children Thank you very much for the very friendly welcome you gave me when I visited your school recently. Although I was with you for only two days, I thoroughly enjoyed finding out about the work you do, and a special thanks to those who talked to me about the school. These are the things I particularly liked about the school: the school is a happy place to be and everyone gets on well you enjoy learning new things most of you behave well and pay attention to your teachers, but there is a lot of calling out in Class 2 you willingly help each other and the staff adults take good care of you and are always there to help you have a good understanding of how to do things in safe and healthy ways

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

you enjoy joining in the after-school clubs. I also looked at what the school might do next. Here are some of the things I suggested: encourage you to think hard all of the time make sure everyone attends school as often as possible make learning even more fun, especially for the older children. Best wishes Keith Bardon

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