St Bridget's CofE School

Inspection Report St Bridget's CofE School

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112271 Unique Reference Number Cumbria LEA 278887 Inspection number 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006 Inspection dates Mrs Lynne Read Reporting inspector

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

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Brigham School address Primary Type of school Cockermouth Voluntary controlled School category Cumbria CA13 0TU 3 to 11 Age range of pupils 01900 325936 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01900 325937 Fax number 126 Number on roll Mr Richard Robertson Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Helen Munby Headteacher 1 June 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 278887 21 March 2006 - 3 to 11 22 March 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 one additional inspector.

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Description of the school

This is a small primary school in Cockermouth, West Cumbria. The majority of pupils are of white British heritage, with a tiny percentage of pupils of mixed heritage. The percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals is below average. When they enter school, children’s attainment is broadly average. The proportion of pupils who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities is average. The proportion with a statement of special educational need is above average. A voluntary committee of parents provide an afternoon care facility for three and four year olds and an after-school club for school age children. St Bridget’s holds the Cumbrian Healthy School award. At the time of the inspection major building works were in progress to provide much needed classroom, library and hall space.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Bridget's CofE School, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006

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Grade: 3

St Bridget’s provides a satisfactory standard of education with some good features. The school judges its overall effectiveness to be good. The reason for the difference is that its own evaluation is based to a large extent on what it has to offer rather than outcomes, such as pupils’ progress. Nevertheless, the school has a clear idea of what needs improving and inspection findings agree with these. Value for money is satisfactory. There are several features of the school that are good. These include the provision in the Foundation Stage and for pupils who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities, pupils’ personal development, the enrichment of the curriculum and support for children. Standards for pupils entering the school and when they leave are average. Progress is satisfactory overall, and good for children in the Foundation Stage and for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Scope exists to improve progress

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Grade: 3

through setting challenging targets for all pupils. A good model is seen in Year 6 where progress this year is good. Standards of writing are weaker than reading throughout the school and are a focus for development. Teaching is satisfactory overall with examples of good practice. The school makes good use of outside agencies to help pupils learn and good account is taken of pupils’ and parents’ views when making decisions. The leadership and management of the school are satisfactory. Improvements since the previous inspection are satisfactory. The special programmes of work for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities now promote good progress and better assessments of pupils’ work provide good information for planning lessons. Procedures to monitor and check the work of the school are improved but subject managers do not do it often enough so weaknesses are sometimes not remedied quickly enough.

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Grade: 3

The school has satisfactory capacity to improve further.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Develop challenging targets for pupils’ learning in each year group so expectations of what they are to achieve are higher. • Extend the monitoring and evaluation work of subject managers so that it happens more often in order to quickly identify and rectify weaknesses. • Provide more opportunities for pupils to write at length.

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Grade: 3

Children enter the nursery with average standards, although some have difficulty with speech and language. They make good progress in the Foundation Stage, especially in personal development. Most are set to reach national expectations by the start of Year 1, many having made up for gaps in their previous learning. 2 Inspection Report: St Bridget's CofE School, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006 In Years 1 and 2, progress is satisfactory and standards are average at the end of Key Stage 1. Standards, at the end of Key Stage 2, were below average in the 2005 tests as a high percentage of pupils in the group had learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This year, progress in Years 3 to 5 is satisfactory and good in Year 6 where challenging targets are set. Year 6 pupils are on course to attain average standards overall, with a much higher proportion of pupils set to attain the higher Level 5 in science and

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Grade: 3

mathematics. Throughout the school, reading is a strength but standards in writing are too low. Pupils from mixed heritage backgrounds do as well as their classmates, and boys and girls do equally well in lessons. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make good progress. Their teachers and teaching assistants make very good use of specialist advice, training and equipment to meet their needs fully.

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Grade: 2

This area is good and a strength of the school. Behaviour is very good and pupils are considerate to others. They cope sensibly and maturely with disruptions caused by the building project. Relationships are very good. Pupils say they feel safe in school, that bullying is not tolerated and that teachers deal swiftly with incidents of ‘people not being nice’. They benefit from the school’s emphasis on healthy eating and are well informed about the consequences of lifestyle choices. Attendance is above average. Spiritual, social and moral development is good. Pupils receive praise for good work or actions and interesting, collaborative activities encourage social interaction. Good links with the church and the promotion of environmental awareness help to instil a sense of spirituality in school. Cultural development is satisfactory. Pupils have a good understanding of local and national traditions but are less well informed about the

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Grade: 2

range of different cultures in society. Pupils contribute to decision making through their school council and have achieved some good improvements, such as improved playground equipment. They enjoy taking responsibilities around school. They are well prepared for secondary education and life outside school.

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are satisfactory overall with good features. The skilled teaching in the Foundation Stage ensures that children have an exciting range of experiences to fire their curiosity and imagination. Teachers and well informed teaching assistants have a good range of expertise to support pupils who find learning difficult. As a result, many of them achieve average standards by the time they leave and those with significant emotional difficulties are helped very effectively to cope with the conventions of school life. In all classes, praise and good relationships inspire pupils to work hard and develop positive attitudes to learning 3 Inspection Report: St Bridget's CofE School, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006 Pupils’ progress is constantly assessed and tracked. Several lessons seen during the inspection were of good quality but evidence of pupils’ progress over the years shows satisfactory teaching and learning with good practice in Year 6. This is because Year

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Grade: 3

6 pupils have challenging targets which promote good progress. In the other years, target setting is less effective. This lowers the expectations of what pupils are expected to achieve. Marking of pupils’ work is satisfactory. In Years 1 and 2, teachers give praise and useful suggestions in lessons to help pupils improve their work. In Years 3 to 6, marking of pupils’ books provides helpful guidance for them on how to make improvements to their work.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum is satisfactory overall and good in terms of developing pupils’ creativity and their personal skills. Art and music have high profiles in the school and pupils are confident learners. Good opportunities to practise the basic skills of reading, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT), run through all subject planning but there are insufficient opportunities for pupils to write at length in any subject. The curriculum for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities meets their needs well. A good range of activities in the Foundation Stage encourages children to ask questions, explore and become independent learners. Enrichment is good with an interesting range of out of school activities, including opportunities to take part in sports. Good links with the community, a wide range of visitors to the school, and many visits to places of educational interest broaden pupils’

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Grade: 3

Overall, this area is satisfactory with strengths in the support for personal development. The pupils’ health, safety and protection are seen as of paramount importance. Procedures for risk assessments and child protection are thorough. Staff know children well and provide a useful programme for personal development. Children are confident to approach adults if they experience problems. Parents are appreciative of the fact that their children feel happy within a ‘warm and caring environment’. The school is aware of the need to develop academic guidance for pupils. Learning targets for pupils who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities are clear and promote good progress. In Year 6, pupils know exactly what they need to do to improve and often review their own progress. For other year groups, pupils’ targets are often too general and not adequately based on challenging expectations, especially in writing.

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Grade: 3

Pupils who have gifts and talents are recognised and a programme of activities is being developed satisfactorily. 4 Inspection Report: St Bridget's CofE School, 21 March 2006 to 22 March 2006

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory overall and instrumental in maintaining a high standard of care and promoting good personal development. All groups of pupils have equal access to all that the school offers. Staff, effectively led by the headteacher, share a commitment to raising standards further and there is a strong sense of pride in the school. Through its self-evaluation, the school has a clear idea of what needs to be done and has a detailed plan of action. The role of the subject managers has improved since the previous inspection but requires further development to provide an essential tier of management in this small school. The checking of teaching and learning by subject managers has not developed into a rigorous and continuous cycle of monitoring provision and standards, and setting targets. As a result, problems may go undetected until the term or year end. An example is the planned improvements in writing which

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Grade: 3

have not been fully implemented over the year. The governors, many of whom are new to the post, understand the strengths of the school and know where further action is needed. They are keen to develop their role in monitoring and evaluating the school’s performance and are undertaking training to enable this. At present, their governance is satisfactory and all statutory requirements are met. 5 Inspection Report: St Bridget's CofE School, 21 March 2006 to 22 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: St Bridget's CofE School, 21 March 2006 to 22 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 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 2 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 2 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 2 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 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 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

Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0207 421 6800 F 0207 421 6707 Ofsted helpline 08456 404045 St Bridget's CofE School Brigham Cockermouth Cumbria CA13 0TU 23 March 2006 Dear Pupils Thank you very much for the very warm welcome you gave me when I recently visited your school. The conversations that I had with groups and individuals were very mature and interesting and I enjoyed watching you at work. You said that lots of things were good about your school and I agree. Some of them are: you enjoy the interesting lessons that your teachers plan for you and work hard you are doing much better with your learning in science and mathematics and are good readers you contribute to some very interesting displays of work around school you behave very well and are polite and friendly you take good advantage of the wide range of extra activities on offer your teachers take great care to keep you safe, happy and healthy

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

you contribute well to the running of the school through the many jobs that you do and help to make decisions through your council members. I was impressed by the progress made by the Year 6 pupils as they work towards their targets for learning and the way that they reviewed their own progress. I think it would be good for all of you to have this sort of challenge. You are learning all the essential writing skills in your English lessons but do not have enough time to practise them. I have, therefore, asked your teachers to provide more opportunities for writing. There is good learning going on in some lessons. I have asked that teachers make sure this happens in all lessons. Thank you once again for helping me so much with the inspection. I hope that you will continue to work hard and enjoy the improved space and facilities once your new building is complete. Yours faithfully Mrs L Read Lead inspector

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