Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend

Inspection Report Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend

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109165 Unique Reference Number South Gloucestershire LEA 278144 Inspection number 6 March 2006 to 7 March 2006 Inspection dates Lorna Brackstone AI Reporting inspector

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

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Pendennis Road School address Junior Type of school Downend Voluntary controlled School category Bristol BS16 5JJ 7 to 11 Age range of pupils 01454 866516 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01454 866518 Fax number 295 Number on roll Mr Norman Low Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Alex Wilkinson Headteacher 17 January 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 278144 6 March 2006 - 7 to 11 7 March 2006 Inspection Report: Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend, 6 March 2006 to 7 March 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 three Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is a large junior school on the outskirts of Bristol serving both private and social housing on either side of the south Gloucestershire and Bristol City boundary. Most pupils are of White British heritage, but there are a few who are of Asian or mixed backgrounds. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is low, as is that for whom English is an additional language. There were several staff changes at the start of the current academic year.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend, 6 March 2006 to 7 March 2006

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Grade: 3

The effectiveness of the school is satisfactory. It provides satisfactory value for money. Pupils start school with average levels of attainment in the basic skills of literacy and numeracy and achieve satisfactorily. After a significant dip in standards in English and science in 2005, the school is now back on track to attain average standards. This is because there have been recent staff changes and key subject leaders have re-focused the emphasis on developing writing and science skills. As yet, pupils’ literacy skills are not promoted sufficiently well across the curriculum. Teaching is satisfactory overall, as is the curriculum. Teachers use resources well to make learning interesting. Although they track pupil progress, teacher expectations are not always high enough. The senior leadership team have an accurate overview of standards, which they use to provide challenging targets for improvement.

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Grade: 3

Personal development is good and, as a result, the pupils enjoy school and behave well. They are well cared for but guidance for pupils on how they can improve their work is not consistent. Not all pupils understand what levels they are working towards and how they can improve. Links with the infant school are good and the school is well supported by the church. Leadership and management are satisfactory. The headteacher makes secure judgements on the strengths and weaknesses of the provision and in conjunction with the governors has appointed a number of skilful teachers. However, the school sees itself as more effective than currently it is. It has a good capacity to improve because of the improvements in the quality of teaching and the focused leadership from senior staff.

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What the school should do to improve further

•Help teachers to plan activities that provide the right challenge for all groups of pupils and involve them in their learning •Plan lessons that encourage pupils to use their writing skills in other subjects •Ensure that pupils and their parents understand how well they are doing and what they need to do to improve their work and reach a higher standard.

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Grade: 3

In relation to their average starting points in Year 3, pupils achieve satisfactorily. Those for whom English is an additional language make the same progress as their peers. Pupils who are gifted and talented are tracked and their achievement is satisfactory. Consequently, most pupils attain average standards by the end of Year 6. This is an improving situation because in the national tests of 2005, standards were below average in English and science. In relation to their average attainment on entry to the school, this represented inadequate achievement. As a direct response to this, the headteacher and governors have improved the consistency of teaching and the effectiveness of 2 Inspection Report: Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend, 6 March 2006 to 7 March 2006 subject leadership by appointing new staff. This has ensured that most pupils in the current Year 6 are now working at the expected level in English and science. Standards

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Grade: 3

in mathematics have been maintained at an average level. Both staff and pupils are working very hard to meet the challenging targets set for the national tests in 2006. However, as yet, pupils’ literacy skills are not promoted sufficiently well across the curriculum.

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Grade: 2

Personal development is good. Pupils’ good attitudes, behaviour and relationships contribute to their well-being and enjoyment of learning. They adopt safe practices and healthy lifestyles. Through membership of the school council, pupils have opportunities to develop responsibility, express their opinions and influence school policy. Attendance is slightly below the national average, but the school has effective procedures in place to improve this. Pupils take an active part in school and community events and are suitably prepared for citizenship. They are encouraged to make informed choices, preparing them for further study and future life. Older pupils take a lead in organising events in support of local and national charities. They attend practical sessions on keeping safe and dealing with emergencies at the Lifeskills Centre and sessions organised by the Fire Service. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. The strong links with

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Grade: 2

the church, worship and opportunities for reflection ensure that spiritual development is fostered well. Pupils have a good understanding of right and wrong and demonstrate care and concern for others. Their social development is enhanced through community links, visits and visitors. The school has strong cultural links with Poland and Germany. Pupils have a developing understanding of the major world faiths and this helps to prepare them for the diversities of modern-day life.

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Grade: 3

Learners make satisfactory progress. This is as a result of satisfactory teaching. Teachers’ subject knowledge is secure and, where teaching is most effective, the learning styles are varied and used well to interest the learners. Learners are encouraged to work independently, good use is made of their discussion skills and teachers tailor their questions appropriately. Learning is less effective when teachers spend too much time talking and pupils become disinterested. At times the pace of learning is too slow because of low teacher expectations. This means that the more capable pupils are not fully challenged and consequently, this hampers their progress. Teaching assistants and student teachers are deployed well to support learning and good use is made of a range of resources to keep pupils interested. Teachers use a 3 Inspection Report: Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend, 6 March 2006 to 7 March 2006

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Grade: 3

thorough range of assessment systems to provide information that can help them to check progress and match the work to the needs of all the pupils. There are also good opportunities for the pupils to check how much they have learnt at the end of each session. Parents and carers support their children well by helping them with homework on a regular basis.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum provides satisfactorily for all learners, including those with learning difficulties and disabilities. Provision for literacy, numeracy and ICT is satisfactory. There is a good range of extra-curricular activities that support and extend the pupils’ learning well. The teaching of French helps them to develop skills for later life and the opportunities to play in the orchestra and represent their school team playing sports develop their confidence well. Education for safety and health are good. The strong links with the secondary schools, particularly when the pupils transfer at the end of Year 6, ensure that the pupils are well prepared for their future learning opportunities.

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Grade: 2

Care, guidance and support are good and contribute to pupils’ well-being, progress and enjoyment of learning. Good pastoral arrangements support pupils as they move into the junior school and when they transfer to secondary schools. The arrangements to promote good behaviour and improve attendance are good and lead to an orderly and safe community in which pupils feel secure. Pupils’ progress is assessed regularly and individual targets are set, but pupils are not always given sufficient guidance on what they need to do to achieve a higher standard of work. The learning support team provides good quality help for pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities and pupils who lack social skills. This ensures that they are kept on task and make progress. Arrangements for supporting pupils at risk and looked after children are good. Child protection procedures are thorough and understood by all staff. There are effective

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Grade: 2

links with a range of external agencies that support pupils’ health, safety and welfare. Regular health and safety checks are carried out and are effective in safeguarding pupils.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. The leaders of the school skilfully promote the personal development and well-being of the pupils. Managers have a satisfactory understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses and have dealt effectively with any issues from the last inspection. Self-evaluation is satisfactory and takes into account the views of the whole-school community. All pupils are included in the life of the school and a particular strength is the way in which pupils with learning 4 Inspection Report: Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend, 6 March 2006 to 7 March 2006 disabilities are fully involved. In response to the decline in the national tests in 2005, the headteacher and governors appointed and reorganised a number of key staff who have clear direction and are committed to improving standards. They have successfully implemented a range of good strategies that have clearly improved the quality of

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Grade: 3

teaching and raised standards in English and science during the current academic year. Resources are well deployed within the very cramped teaching areas and the carry forward in the budget is being used to supplement funding for a new build. Governors are supportive of the school and after the decline in recent test results, now fully understand the need to challenge the decisions and actions made by the leadership team. 5 Inspection Report: Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend, 6 March 2006 to 7 March 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: Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend, 6 March 2006 to 7 March 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 NA 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 2 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 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 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 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

Thank you very much for the way you helped us when we came to look at the work of your school. We enjoyed visiting your classrooms and talking to you about your work and all the interesting things you do at school. These are some of the things we think are good: •You enjoy school and behave well •You develop respect for others, understand the difference between right and wrong, share views and opinions sensibly and are open to new ideas •You are looked after well and all staff care about your welfare •Teachers use learning resources such as the interactive whiteboards to make lessons interesting and teaching assistants support you well. We have asked the school to work on three areas: •To make sure that teachers always give you work that makes you think hard and involve you more in lessons •To help you use your writing skills more in subjects other than English •To make sure that you and your parents understand what levels you are working at and how they

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

compare with what is expected of you. Keep on working hard, behaving well and enjoying school life.

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