Holy Cross RC Primary School

Inspection Report Holy Cross RC Primary School

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109244 Unique Reference Number Bristol, City of LEA 278161 Inspection number 12 October 2005 to 13 October 2005 Inspection dates Hazel Callaghan RISP Reporting inspector

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

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Dean Lane School address Primary Type of school Bedminster Voluntary aided School category Bristol BS3 1DB 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 0117 3772199 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 0117 3772375 Fax number 175 Number on roll Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Andy Newport Headteacher 19 June 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 278161 12 October 2005 - 4 to 11 13 October 2005 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 inspections

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Description of the school

Holy Cross Roman Catholic Primary is an average-sized school. It admits children from the immediate area and from other nearby parishes. Most pupils are of White British decent but about a third come from minority ethnic groups. Twenty-five children have been identified as having English as an additional language, some of which need extra support The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is above average, but the proportion of pupils identified by the school as having learning or physical disabilities is broadly average. There is a lot of movement of pupils entering and leaving the school at other times than is usual. There have been a large number of changes in the teaching staff over the last two years but this has now stabilised.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Holy Cross RC Primary School, 12 October 2005 to 13 October 2005

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Grade: 3

Holy Cross RC Primary is an improving school that provides a satisfactory quality of education. The school’s self-evaluation agrees with this statement and the headteacher and governors have a clear focus on the need to raise standards and achievement. Satisfactory teaching is enabling pupils to make sound progress. Although below average, standards are rising because teaching is becoming more consistent. Teachers’ assessments, however, are not sufficiently accurate. This clouds their judgements and expectations, and results in some pupils not doing as well as they could. Systems for monitoring pupils’ progress are not sufficiently sophisticated. There is not enough information on how pupils of different abilities and groups are achieving. As a consequence, the school finds difficulty in identifying strengths and weaknesses in their learning. The provision for children in the Foundation Stage is good and enables

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Grade: 3

them to make a good start in their education. The curriculum is enriched through the use of visits and additional activities but pupils’ literacy, numeracy and computer skills are not sufficiently developed in other subjects. This weakness is recognised by the school and it will be part of their review of curricular planning. The school is now making satisfactory improvement and has the capacity to improve further. It provides satisfactory value for money.

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What the school should do to improve further

• ensure teachers’ assessment of pupils’ work is accurate • refine the use of assessment data to make it easier to monitor the progress of different groups of pupils • make sure that the basic skills of reading, writing, mathematics and information and communication technology (ICT) are used across the curriculum.

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Grade: 3

Standards in the reception class are satisfactory and most children attain the standards expected of them by the time they transfer into Year 1. Children make good progress, especially in their personal development. They are prepared well for their future learning. Standards at the end of Year 2 and Year 6 are not high enough in English, mathematics and science. Standards have fluctuated from year to year but generally, standards since the last inspection have been below average. This is because pupils have not made enough progress as they move through the school. This was largely due to teachers’ inconsistent expectations of pupils’ attainment. Pupils have made better progress in the last two years. Standards in Year 6 rose significantly in 2004 and pupils achieved well in English and mathematics. In 2005, despite pupils making satisfactory progress in Year 6, standards dipped once more because of the weak progress pupils had made in earlier year groups. Strategies to

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Grade: 3

2 Inspection Report: Holy Cross RC Primary School, 12 October 2005 to 13 October 2005 improve achievement over the last two years are now beginning to work. Although below average, standards are rising in Year 2 and Year 6. Achievement is satisfactory overall and most pupils of all abilities, including those with learning and physical disabilities, now meet the targets set for them. Pupils of different minority ethnic groups and those in the early stages of learning English make satisfactory progress. The school recognises that pupils’ achievement needs to be good if standards are to rise further. Grade: 3

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Grade: 3

Pupils’ spiritual, moral and social development is satisfactory. Provision is good in the reception class where children settle quickly into school routines. Moral development is promoted well throughout the school in assemblies and in class discussions. Pupils’ cultural development is satisfactory, but there is not enough done to introduce pupils to a range of cultures. Pupils are respectful to adults and generally cooperate well in lessons. Behaviour has improved since the last inspection. It is now often good, although a small minority of pupils sometimes interrupt the flow of lessons. Pupils spoken to say they enjoy school and feel safe and secure. They generally tackle tasks with enthusiasm and are keen to answer questions and contribute to class discussions. Pupils know how to keep themselves safe and have a satisfactory awareness of a healthy lifestyle. The school council provides pupils with an opportunity to voice

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Grade: 3

their views and make a difference to school life. Pupils’ early understanding of citizenship is also effectively promoted by weekly awards, which recognise pupils’ contribution to the class. Pupils are enthusiastic about receiving these awards, especially the ‘splendid badges’ that are worn with pride. Attendance is satisfactory. Grade: 3

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Grade: 3

Teaching is satisfactory, overall. Teaching in the Reception is often good. The Reception class teacher and learning support assistant work together very well. Teaching in Years 1-6 is satisfactory with good practice evident in some classes. The school has worked effectively to identify ways in which teaching can be further improved so that standards rise, especially in English and mathematics. Positive strategies have been developed to promote pupils’ good behaviour and attention and these are used effectively in most classes. Teachers’ assessment of pupils’ learning is not sufficiently accurate, as a result pupils are not always challenged and their knowledge and skills successfully extended. Teaching assistants show good levels of expertise. They are used well to support different groups, such as those pupils who are in the early stages of learning English, so they are able to take an active part in

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Grade: 3

the lesson. Pupils with learning disabilities are also well supported so they know how 3 Inspection Report: Holy Cross RC Primary School, 12 October 2005 to 13 October 2005 to tackle new work or to reach the targets in their individual education plans. Grade:

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Grade: 3

The curriculum has improved since the last inspection. It is now broad and balanced. Teachers make good use of the national guidance for teaching literacy and numeracy and this is helping to raise standards. However, pupils do not have enough opportunities to use their reading, writing, mathematics and ICT skills in different subjects. This is one reason why pupils do not make as much progress as might be expected. The school is aware of this and is developing lesson planning, but the improvements have not had time to make a difference. The curriculum has been successfully enriched over the last two years. Pupils are benefiting from a good range of educational visits and visitors to school as well as the introduction of a comprehensive programme of lunchtime and after school clubs and activities. These effectively develop pupils’ social skills and their understanding of how to keep healthy. The school has satisfactory links with other schools and outside

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Grade: 3

agencies to promote pupils’ greater awareness of how to contribute to the wider community. Grade: 3

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Grade: 3

Pupils work and play in a caring and supportive environment. Procedures for child protection are effective and there is a good range of policies and procedures for ensuring the health and safety of pupils. Behavioural incidents and minor accidents are recorded carefully. Most parents are confident that their children are well cared for, but a significant minority of parents expressed their concern about the rigour with which some of the school safety procedures are applied. Teachers provide good personal support and guidance for all the different groups of pupils in the school. They know their pupils well and relationships between staff and pupils are good. The new system of targets in English and mathematics provide pupils with a good focus on what to do to improve their work. Teachers’ very thorough marking also helps guide pupils’ progress. Pupils are not, however, involved enough in evaluating their progress towards these targets. In some cases, targets are not

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Grade: 3

sufficiently challenging and this slows progress. Grade: 3

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. The headteacher has a clear focus on raising standards and pupils’ achievement. He has created an enthusiastic team of staff who are eager to improve their professional skills and to provide a good standard of education. The school has benefited from the help provided by the local authority. 4 Inspection Report: Holy Cross RC Primary School, 12 October 2005 to 13 October 2005 The variation in teaching is now being tackled. Subject leaders are now better prepared for leading and co-ordinating subjects, especially in English and mathematics, and this is also giving a stronger focus to improving standards. Satisfactory systems are in place to monitor pupils’ attainment and achievement. The data has enabled the school to identify where pupils’ progress is too slow. It does not, however, look at groups of pupils of different abilities so that strengths and weaknesses

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Grade: 3

in their achievement are identified and strategies for improvement developed. The progress of higher attaining pupils, for example, is not sufficiently identified so that their underachievement is recognised and rectified. The school’s evaluation is successful in identifying what the school now needs to do in order to improve in terms of raising standards through more consistent teaching. The headteacher and governors have started to seek parents’ views about the school and have improved its systems of communication. Parents are now kept well informed about their children’s progress and what they are learning each term. The governors are very supportive of the school and carry out their responsibilities appropriately. They are now more involved in school improvement. Following the previous inspection, improvement was slow but it is now increasing. The school has the capacity to improve further. Grade: 3

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Grade: 3

5 Inspection Report: Holy Cross RC Primary School, 12 October 2005 to 13 October 2005 .

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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: Holy Cross RC Primary School, 12 October 2005 to 13 October 2005

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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 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 3 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 3 The behaviour of learners NA 3 The attendance of learners NA 2 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 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

Holy Cross RC Primary School Dean Lane Bedminster Bristol BS3 1DB 14th October 2005 Dear Children I am writing to say thank you for making us feel welcome in your school and for helping us with our questions. We really enjoyed chatting to you and found everything you said very interesting. I thought you would like to know what we found out about you and the school. What we liked about the school: most of you are happy at school and enjoy your lessons most of you try hard and listen carefully to your teachers Mr Newport and the teachers want you to make good progress in your work and are looking at different ways to help you do well there are interesting clubs for you to enjoy after school and visits make your lessons more interesting. What we have asked the school to do: teachers should make sure your activities build on what you already know and can do, and expect you to make good progress teachers should look carefully at the progress you make and find out what it is that helps you

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

do well and who needs to do better teachers should give you more opportunities to use your reading, writing, mathematics and computer skills in other subjects so you get lots of practice. Thank you for helping us find out about your school. Best wishes Hazel Callaghan Inspector

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