Park Street CofE Primary School

Inspection Report Park Street CofE Primary School

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110837 Unique Reference Number CAMBRIDGESHIRE LEA LEA 278528 Inspection number 25 May 2006 to 26 May 2006 Inspection dates Mr. Keith Sadler LI Reporting inspector

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

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Lower Park Street School address Primary Type of school CB5 8AR Voluntary aided School category 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01223 576922 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01223 566705 Fax number 121 Number on roll Dr.Shailaja Fennell Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Miss. Dorothy Betts Headteacher 25 September 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 278528 25 May 2006 - 4 to 11 26 May 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 an Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

Park Street is a smaller than average sized Church of England primary school. Most pupils come from White British and other White backgrounds. Some pupils have a wide range of other backgrounds. The proportion of pupils who are at an early stage of speaking English as an additional language is very low. Pupils come from above average socio-economic backgrounds overall and the proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is low. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is about half the national average. The turnover of pupils is twice the national average because many parents come to Cambridge University to study or teach for periods of two or three years.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Park Street CofE Primary School , 25 May 2006 to 26 May 2006

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Grade: 2

The inspection confirms the school's view that its overall effectiveness is good. The school has a number of outstanding features and provides good value for money. As one parent said, 'There is a wonderful, warm and caring environment for children to learn and develop.' This atmosphere pervades the whole school and all the staff care and support the pupils exceptionally well. Pupils' personal development is outstanding, with exemplary behaviour and excellent spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Children make a good start in the Foundation Stage, where they achieve well due to the good quality of provision, though opportunities for outdoor learning are too limited. All groups of pupils continue to achieve well in the other three classes and they love their school and learning. This is because the quality of teaching and learning is invariably good and sometimes outstanding. By the time that they leave the school,

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Grade: 2

their good achievement is reflected in standards that are exceptionally high in English and above average in mathematics. Standards in science are broadly in line with the national average. Pupils' progress in science is slower because the school has not adapted national guidelines sufficiently well to reflect the needs of Park Street pupils. Parents are almost unanimous in their support for the school. An overwhelming majority of parents strongly agreed that all aspects of the school's outcomes, provision and leadership and management are good. Leadership and management are outstanding. The headteacher's leadership is excellent. She has a clear vision for the school based on high expectations of the staff and pupils and she strives hard to ensure that all involved with the school make a positive contribution to the school's success. She works in close partnership with the staff. Together they have developed the very strong

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Grade: 2

teamwork which has brought about good improvement since the last inspection. This includes the good self evaluation processes in place. Governors play a positive role in the school's success. There is significant capacity to improve further.

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What the school should do to improve further

- Ensure that national guidelines for science are adapted to meet the needs of the pupils. - Provide the resources to enable the Foundation Stage children's outdoor learning to be extended.

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Grade: 2

Pupils' achievement is good. Pupils meet the challenging targets set for them. Children start Reception with standards that are, overall, in line with those found in most schools. Progress is quick and pupils achieve well in all four classes. This is due to the consistently good teaching and sometimes outstanding teaching and the positive atmosphere for learning. By the end of Year 6, standards are exceptionally high in English, above average in mathematics and broadly average in science. Pupils' progress in science is more limited because teachers have not made sufficient adaptations to the national guidelines to ensure that all pupils are sufficiently challenged in the 2 Inspection Report: Park Street CofE Primary School , 25 May 2006 to 26 May 2006 subject. The school is aware of this and good plans are in place to make necessary improvements. Pupils' speaking and listening skills are outstanding, with most pupils

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Grade: 2

able to provide lucid and extended explanations of difficult ideas with ease, using a wide and sophisticated vocabulary. Pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities and those that speak English as an additional language make good progress as a result of the good provision that they receive.

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Grade: 1

Pupils' personal development is outstanding. They are readily motivated by good teaching and relationships are excellent. Pupils thoroughly enjoy working together. Their behaviour is outstanding, both in lessons and around the school, with older pupils constantly looking out to support any unhappy, quiet or younger children. Pupils are given a wide range of opportunities to have a say in the school. For example, the school council has a very positive impact on school life. Good opportunities are provided for pupils to develop economic awareness, for example, through using their own ideas to raise money for a pupil nominated charity. As a result, their understanding of democracy, caring for others, economic awareness and being part of a team are of a high order. Pupils are adopting healthy lifestyles and they enjoy healthy foods. They show a great understanding for their own safety, for example, in realizing the

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Grade: 1

importance of the very strict rules that are in place to secure their safety when playing on Jesus Green at lunchtime. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. They are sensitive to things of beauty and to the feelings of others. Pupils act on a clear understanding of right and wrong and appreciate the richness and diversity of cultures other than their own. Attendance is broadly average. This is almost entirely due to days that are taken by the many pupils whose permanent homes may be outside either Cambridge or this country. Good procedures are in place to boost attendance.

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Grade: 2

Teaching is good and helps the pupils to learn well. They love learning and have very positive relationships with one another and all staff. They are eager to please their teachers and work hard. The teaching has some outstanding features. Work is generally planned well to meet the needs of the two year groups present in all classes, with good quality learning activities that are well matched to children's needs. All staff make excellent use of the interactive whiteboards which helps to heighten pupils' interest. The school's clear emphasis on developing the pupils' learning is paying dividends. For example, many opportunities are provided for pupils to work together. Teachers have a good understanding of pupils' preferred learning styles and make sure that they match the pupils' preferences. Additionally, teachers' marking is of good quality and challenging targets for improvement are set which the pupils work hard to meet.

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Grade: 2

3 Inspection Report: Park Street CofE Primary School , 25 May 2006 to 26 May 2006 Assessment activities are an important factor in the effective teaching and they are used very well to ensure that future work meets children's needs. However, children in the Foundation Stage have very limited opportunities to learn outdoors because there is no cover and, also, there are insufficient resources, such as large wheeled toys, to support their physical development.

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Grade: 2

There have been significant improvements in the curriculum since the last inspection. The curriculum is good with a number of excellent features. The school uses the resources that Cambridge provides, both as a city and university outstandingly well. It is enriched by an overwhelming range of visits and having visitors in the school to support learning in all subjects. For example, pupils attend lectures in mathematics and science for pupils, they visit college chapels, Ely Cathedral and a mosque to enhance their understanding of other cultures and religions. Arts activities are extremely well supported by visiting galleries, museums, theatre workshops and plays, as well as a wide range of musical events in school and the city. All statutory requirements are met and, other than in science, good adaptations to national guidelines have been made to meet the needs of its pupils. Pupils enjoy a suitable range of extra curricular

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Grade: 1

Excellent attention is given to ensuring children are safe and well looked after at school. This provision contributes well to the pupils' good achievement. One pupil said, 'Everybody cares about each other and it is fun to learn because you feel safe.' The arrangements for ensuring pupils' safety when using Jesus Green at lunchtimes are exemplary. Procedures for ensuring that children are protected and assessments of physical risks are securely in place and are regularly reviewed. Support and guidance for pupils is outstanding and pupils get along together exceptionally well. There is a strong emphasis on teaching them to live healthily. Those with additional needs are very well supported, for example, through individual education plans and good quality specialist teaching assistants support for those with English as an additional language and the gifted and talented pupils.

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Grade: 1

The headteacher provides outstanding leadership and management and has ensured continuous improvement since the last inspection. She has successfully developed an atmosphere that enables pupils to feel secure and to thrive. She is keenly aware of the need to ensure that staff become directly involved in the many partnerships that support the teachers' development and pupils' achievement. This includes good links with a wide range of school networks here and abroad, with the partner secondary 4 Inspection Report: Park Street CofE Primary School , 25 May 2006 to 26 May 2006 school and university colleges. Above all, she has created a very strong sense of teamwork so that there is a purposeful, inclusive and very positive atmosphere in which all views are valued. With able support from all the staff with responsibilities, there is a clear vision for the future of the school. This is shared by all staff and governors.

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Grade: 1

There is good capacity for further improvement. The school has good systems for checking how well it is doing. These ensure that it has an accurate grasp of improvements that may need to be made. Staff regularly seek and act on the views of parents through both informal discussion and questionnaires. The result is a good improvement plan that builds on the suggestions of pupils, staff, parents and governors. This effectively outlines priorities and how they will be tackled. Governance is good. Governors are well organised and outstandingly well led by an excellent chair of governors. They are deeply committed to the school and its improvement and they have a clear understanding of the many strengths and areas for development. 5 Inspection Report: Park Street CofE Primary School , 25 May 2006 to 26 May 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: Park Street CofE Primary School , 25 May 2006 to 26 May 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 1 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 2 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 1 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

I really enjoyed visiting you when I came to inspect your school. Thank you very much for the friendly way you welcomed me and for your help in finding out about the school. Both you and your parents told me that you love coming to school and that you feel safe and well cared for. I am not surprised. Yours is a good school and everybody who works there tries very hard to help you to do well. Your teachers are good and work hard to make sure that lessons are made interesting and exciting. Your headteacher has done an outstanding job in making sure that you all work and play together in such a friendly way. I was very impressed with your behaviour, which is excellent. You work hard in lessons so that you learn lots of new things. Your teachers know that they can particularly help you in your science work by making sure that their plans are changed so that they will help you to learn better. Also the children in Class 1 need to be

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

able to make more use of the infant playground by having a big cover so they can work outside when it is raining and have protection from the sun. Also, they need to have some wheeled toys such as bikes and trikes to help them with their riding skills. You're really lucky to go to Park Street Primary School. It is a very friendly place where everybody wants the best for you. Thank you once again for being so helpful to me. With very best wishes for your future.

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