Lemington Riverside Primary School

Inspection Report Lemington Riverside Primary School

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108456 Unique Reference Number Newcastle upon Tyne LEA 277976 Inspection number 2 February 2006 to 3 February 2006 Inspection dates Mr Andrew Scott Reporting inspector

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

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Rokeby Street School address First Type of school Lemington Community School category Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear 3 to 11 Age range of pupils

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0191 2674315 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 0191 2648161 Fax number 174 Number on roll Mrs Angela Currie Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Susan Hall Headteacher 1 June 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 277976 2 February 2006 - 3 to 11 3 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 an average sized urban school, serving an area of considerable social and economic disadvantage. Nearly all pupils are from white British families, but a few pupils who are not English speakers have recently started at the school. Almost a third of pupils have learning difficulties and/or disabilities, which is higher than average. The school has just completed its change from first school to primary school. Attainment on entry to the school is well below average, especially in language and mathematics.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Lemington Riverside Primary School, 2 February 2006 to 3 February 2006

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Grade: 3

The school’s provision for its pupils is satisfactory. They achieve well in the nursery and reception classes because of good teaching. Despite good progress, they attain standards below those expected nationally. From Year 1 to Year 6 pupils make satisfactory progress, although standards are still below average in Year 6. Teaching is satisfactory overall. Teachers are well organised and present new learning clearly. However, they do not consistently match work to the abilities of all pupils, especially the more able. In addition, not all lessons are stimulating enough to motivate pupils fully and to help them become more independent learners. Pupils’ personal development is satisfactory as are care, guidance and support. Pupils enjoy lessons and mostly get on well together. In the playground, however, their play can be too boisterous and sometimes aggressive. Staff do not have a consistently effective way of overcoming this, although they do have the best interests of the

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Grade: 3

pupils at heart. The school has worked hard with parents to improve pupils’ attendance, and is disappointed that it is still below average. Leadership and management are satisfactory. Inspectors broadly agree with the school’s view of itself. As a result of regular analysis, many areas of concern are rightly highlighted for improvement. Actions to improve the school are appropriate but not sharply focused enough to ensure improvement within a reasonable timescale. Governance is inadequate because there are too few governors and they play too little part in the development of the school. The school’s improvement since the last inspection is satisfactory and it is securely placed to improve further. As a result, it provides satisfactory value for money.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards by the end of Years 2 and 6, by ensuring that all pupils are consistently challenged in their work, especially more able pupils. • Increase pupils’ enthusiasm in lessons and give them more scope for independent learning. • Ensure that all levels of management are rigorous in evaluating the work of the school and carrying out action plans. • Ensure that behaviour outside lessons is free from aggression.

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Grade: 3

Overall, achievement is satisfactory. Pupils enter school with low attainment, especially in language and mathematics. In the nursery and reception classes, despite good progress, children attain below nationally expected standards. Standards at end of Year 2 have risen year on year. This year, standards are below average in reading and mathematics, although they are average in writing. This is because significantly more pupils than usual have learning difficulties and will not 2 Inspection Report: Lemington Riverside Primary School, 2 February 2006 to 3 February 2006 attain as highly as pupils in past years. By the end of Year 6, standards in English, mathematics and science are below average. Standards have improved markedly from last year, when they were very low, because the school has begun to address weaknesses in literacy and numeracy. Overall, the school sets targets for its pupils that are realistic

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Grade: 3

and achievable. They are on course to attaining these targets. Pupils with learning difficulties achieve as well as other pupils. The few pupils whose first language is not English have only just arrived at the school, and so it is too soon to judge their progress.

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Grade: 3

Pupils enjoy school. They develop satisfactorily as individuals, learning to show respect and consideration for others. Pupils rightly feel valued and well supported because of encouragement from all staff and special activities that develop their social and emotional skills. Pupils like their lessons but their concentration and pace of work fluctuate at times. Attendance is lower than average and this undermines the progress of a minority of pupils. Behaviour is satisfactory and most pupils feel safe at school. However, there is some aggressive behaviour in the playground that makes a few pupils anxious. Parents acknowledge that much is being done by the school to address the problem. Pupils understand the importance of staying healthy through physical education and wise eating. Periodic visits and visitors, and participation in events, help pupils understand their own local culture and the wider world. Their achievement in literacy and numeracy

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Grade: 3

means that they are suitably prepared for their next school. Overall, pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is satisfactory.

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are satisfactory, with good features. Throughout the school, lessons are well focused on basic skills and teachers are good at explaining new learning. As a result, pupils are usually able to understand new ideas. Teachers manage pupils well so that lessons are mostly calm and orderly, allowing pupils to concentrate on their work. Teaching assistants work sensitively with pupils, especially those with learning difficulties, offering helpful guidance and emotional support where necessary. Some pupils do not learn as well as they might because teachers do not consistently expect enough from them, especially more able pupils. Sometimes teaching is not dynamic enough to galvanise pupils and so their pace of work is too slow. Teaching in the reception and nursery classes is good. In these classes, teachers structure learning well and make it exciting so that children are eager to learn and

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Grade: 3

3 Inspection Report: Lemington Riverside Primary School, 2 February 2006 to 3 February 2006 steadily acquire important skills. Children are encouraged to enjoy learning by finding things out for themselves.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum is satisfactory. There is a suitable framework for each subject with appropriate emphasis on literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT), although the school recognises that it does not yet do enough to develop these subjects across the curriculum. The school has, however, increased opportunities in music and physical education. The provision for pupils with learning difficulties is satisfactory. Their individual learning plans are good, but their targets are not swiftly updated when achieved. A safe and healthy lifestyle is satisfactorily promoted through work in lessons, as well as sport after school. Teachers provide extra activities and visits to make learning more interesting. Pupils feel that visits to ancient sites ‘bring history to life’. A local traffic census opened the eyes of pupils in Year 5 about what kind of vehicles use their locality. Such activities promote pupils’ achievement but more should be provided in

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Grade: 3

Inspectors do not agree with the school that care, guidance and support of pupils are good. These are judged to be satisfactory overall. Health and safety routines and risk assessments are firmly in place. There are established procedures for child protection and pupils are aware of how to keep themselves safe. There are good links with outside agencies to help pupils with particular needs, including those with learning difficulties. Parents are mostly pleased with the support given to their children. However, the school has not wholly succeeded in eradicating the poor behaviour of a few pupils in the playground. Teachers keep a good record of pupils’ progress in their work. Staff know which pupils need extra help and which key skills in literacy and numeracy need to be improved. However, teachers do not use this information skilfully enough in planning their lessons, and pupils do not always understand how they can improve.

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Grade: 3

The leadership and management of the school are satisfactory. The headteacher has worked tirelessly to bring about the necessary changes from being a first school to a primary school. This has been managed successfully but it has taken quite a long time. Recent improvements include better teaching in Years 3 to 6, smarter accommodation and good staff morale. The open style of leadership by the headteacher has given staff a greater sense of purpose. 4 Inspection Report: Lemington Riverside Primary School, 2 February 2006 to 3 February 2006 The headteacher and senior staff have good priorities, especially the raising of pupils’ achievement. They know their school reasonably well and rightly highlight areas of concern, such as literacy skills. However, their self analysis is not sufficiently rigorous or urgent. For example, the headteacher identified a year ago that more able pupils were not achieving well enough. One year later this remains an issue.

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Grade: 3

The school has difficulty recruiting governors, and there are several vacancies at present. The chair of governors is good at supporting and, occasionally, challenging the headteacher. However, governance overall is inadequate because governors are not involved enough in the school’s development. Parents think well of the school, although a few have concerns about the aggressive behaviour of some pupils. The school responds sensibly to such concerns and works hard to encourage parents to support their children’s learning fully. The school’s improvement since the last inspection has been satisfactory, and not good, as the school believes. Some aspects, like standards and teaching, are much the same, accommodation has improved, but issues of behaviour and governance have not been fully addressed. However, the strengths of the school, and the new found confidence in its full primary status, mean that the school is suitably placed to improve.

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Grade: 3

5 Inspection Report: Lemington Riverside Primary School, 2 February 2006 to 3 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: Lemington Riverside Primary School, 2 February 2006 to 3 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 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 3 The behaviour of learners NA 4 The attendance of learners NA 3 How well learners enjoy their education NA 3 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices NA 3 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 4 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 Mrs Susan Hall Lemington Riverside Primary School Rokeby Street Lemington Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear NE15 8RR 6 February 2006 Dear Children I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to your school and meeting you and your teachers. Thank you very much for your help during the inspection. I believe that your school gives you a satisfactory education because: you have a good start to school in the nursery and reception classes you mostly get on well together and enjoy your lessons your teachers explain new work clearly so that you understand what you have to learn there are interesting activities and visits that help your learning the adults in the school care for you and make sure you are healthy and safe your headteacher and staff have worked hard to change the school into a full primary school. However, I have suggested some ways in which your school could be better:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

you could do better in your work, if teachers make sure that you always work as hard as you can lessons could be more exciting and give you more chance to learn by yourselves plans to improve the school are good and should be carried out without delay I would like some of you to behave better in the playground. I wish you every success for the future. Yours faithfully Andrew Scott

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