Mickleover Primary School

Inspection Report Mickleover Primary School

p.1

112790 Unique Reference Number DERBY CITY OF LEA LEA 279020 Inspection number 22 September 2005 to 23 September 2005 Inspection dates Mr. Declan McCarthy LI Reporting inspector

p.1

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

p.1

Vicarage Road School address Primary Type of school DE3 0EY Community School category 4 to 12 Age range of pupils 01332514052 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01332 523860 Fax number 363 Number on roll Mr.R Tapping Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs. Lynne Skeith Headteacher 1 November 2000 Date of previous inspection

p.1

Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 279020 22 September 2005 - 4 to 12 23 September 2005 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Introduction

The inspection was carried out by three additional inspectors.

p.3

Description of the school

The school is larger than average with 363 pupils on roll. Twenty- nine per cent of pupils travel to the school from out of the normal catchment area. The number of pupils eligible for free school meals and the proportion with special educational needs (SEN) are both below average. Most pupils are from white, British backgrounds. A very small number are from Indian, Black Caribbean and other Black backgrounds. The attainment of most children on entry to the reception class is above average, although it varies slightly from year to year. This is a popular school with the demand for places exceeding the planned admission level. The school has achieved the Active Sports Gold and Healthy Schools Awards.

p.3

Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Mickleover Primary School, 22 September 2005 to 23 September 2005

p.3

Grade: 2

Mickleover School provides a good education for its pupils and has some outstanding features. The school's own judgements about itself match inspectors' judgements. The school has made good improvement since its last inspection and provides good value for money. Standards are high throughout the school, especially in mathematics, and pupils' progress is good because teaching and learning are good. Children in the reception year achieve consistently high standards and make good progress. Parents are very pleased with teaching and pupils really enjoy learning. Attendance is much better than average and pupils behave very well throughout the school. Their positive attitudes to learning and very good personal development promote good achievement. Parents also value the exceptional quality of care and support the school provides. The curriculum is good, encouraging pupils to be actively involved in their learning

p.4

Grade: 2

and considerably enhancing their interpersonal skills. All pupils, including those with learning difficulties, are fully included in all school activities. The school is well led by the acting headteacher who has ensured a strong team commitment to school improvement. As a result, the school has a good capacity to improve. The previous inspection issue has been thoroughly addressed so that good computer resources are now used effectively to support teaching and learning. This has had a significant impact on pupil progress. The school has effectively raised standards of higher attaining pupils since 2004 and rightly sees this as an ongoing priority for development.

p.4

What the school should do to improve further

- To continue to improve pupils' progress in English and science so that it matches their progress in mathematics. - To ensure that the planned developments for gifted and talented pupils are implemented effectively.

p.4

Grade: 2

The school and inspectors agree that standards are above those expected for pupils' ages and achievement is good. Parents also agree that their children do well. Many children enter school with above average attainment and by the end of the reception year nearly all pupils are on course to achieve the goals expected of them and some exceed these. Children communicate clearly, making good gains in basic literacy and number skills as a result of good teaching and very good support. They make good progress in their personal, social and emotional development. Children particularly enjoy their creative and physical activities. The 2004 results have shown that by the end of Year 2, standards are consistently above average in reading, writing and mathematics and pupils make good progress. Although the results show that pupils in Year 6 reached above average standards, higher attaining pupils did not achieve as

p.4

Grade: 2

well as they could have done in English and science. Nevertheless the school quickly identified the reasons for this and put in place effective strategies to raise standards. Consequently, results in 2005 improved significantly and nearly all pupils did as well 2 Inspection Report: Mickleover Primary School, 22 September 2005 to 23 September 2005 or better than expected. The higher attainers at mathematics did particularly well, which shows the good progress they are now making. For example, in the 2005 national tests, twice as many pupils gained the higher levels in English than in 2004 and more than half of pupils gained higher levels in mathematics and science. Pupils also make good progress in other subjects such as information and communication technology (ICT), music and PE. The trend in the school's performance over the last five years has been above the national trend with no significant differences between girls and boys.

p.4

Grade: 2

Pupils with SEN also do well as a result of high quality support. The very few pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds also achieve as well as other pupils. The school has begun to meet the needs of gifted and talented pupils and rightly sees this as a priority for continual development, which will help to raise standards further.

p.5

Grade: 1

Pupils' personal development is outstanding. Pupils develop good social skills and good understanding of moral issues. The emphasis on positive attitudes helps pupils develop responsibility for themselves, others and their environment. The school provides an environment in which pupils feel safe, happy and respected: parents view this very positively. Pupils have very positive views about their education. Inspectors were impressed by the enthusiasm shown by pupils when they talked about the school. Pupils respond strongly to opportunities to participate in the running of the school. By involvement in the school council, pupils develop a good awareness of the school community and of the contribution they can make to it. Pupils' physical well-being is promoted through healthy eating initiatives, such as the 'salad bar'. This is augmented by the provision of an extensive extra-curricular programme which attracts many pupils.

p.5

Grade: 1

The provision for pupils' spiritual and cultural development is good. Provision for their moral and social development is outstanding. The considerable emphasis placed on these aspects leads to pupils' growing understanding of justice and self-respect. These aspects are taught well and have had a considerable impact on pupils' excellent attitudes and behaviour.

p.5

Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good and parents say that their children have all the help they need in order to learn. All teachers work hard to plan interesting lessons so pupils enjoy their learning. Pupils also say that their lessons are interesting and fun. Teachers challenge pupils' thinking through good question and answer sessions and they have high expectations for their learning. Teachers plan their lessons well, making good use of resources, particularly the new interactive whiteboards, to enhance teaching and learning. For example, in a mathematics - focused activity in the Reception class, children used the interactive white board to trace over and draw the various shapes they could see in a house. Pupils are well motivated and complete their tasks willingly. 3 Inspection Report: Mickleover Primary School, 22 September 2005 to 23 September 2005 Teachers set clear learning objectives at the beginning of lessons and assess progress

p.5

Grade: 2

with pupils at the end. Pupils with additional learning needs receive good support for their learning. Teachers are beginning to make good use of assessment to identify gaps in learning and there are very good plans in place to strengthen this by tracking pupils' progress against their individual targets. Marking is also used effectively by teachers to move learning forward.

p.6

Grade: 2

The school has a good curriculum. It provides a good focus on literacy and numeracy as well as good coverage of a broad range of other subjects. The curriculum is carefully planned. Through the curriculum, the school encourages pupils to be creative and to make links between different subjects. A performance of the Ramayana, for example, linked drama, religious education and art. As a result, pupils are interested and enjoy their lessons. The ICT curriculum has significantly improved since the last inspection. All pupils have ICT lessons and they also make good use of ICT in their other subjects. The curriculum is enriched very well through visits, visitors and activity days. It promotes pupils' health through the personal, social and health education course and activities such as the healthy lifestyle week. There is a good range of clubs including many sporting activities, drama and craft. Many pupils learn to play a musical instrument

p.6

Grade: 2

and have the opportunity to participate in recorder groups, wind band and choir.

p.6

Grade: 1

The care, guidance and support provided by the school are outstanding. Very high levels of staff commitment and competence effectively promote the heath, safety and well- being of all pupils. Child protection and health and safety procedures are clear and well understood by all staff. Teachers have a good understanding of their pupils' pastoral and development needs, and respond positively to them. Overwhelmingly, pupils feel that the school provides a safe environment for them. In this environment, the school offers increasingly challenging targets. The care, guidance and support which pupils receive give them growing confidence in meeting those targets, in an atmosphere where, as one put it, 'learning is fun' Learners at risk, including the most vulnerable are clearly identified and effective arrangements are put in place to support them. This increases their confidence on both academic and personal levels. Older

p.6

Grade: 1

pupils are encouraged to care for the younger pupils. Playground buddies and other systems ensure that pupils look after each other well. The pupils value these responsibilities. Parents recognise the quality of information that they are given about how well their children progress and where they need to improve. Regular opportunities are planned for parents and teachers to meet, and reports are clearly written and helpful. Parents of pupils with special educational needs are kept well informed about their progress. The well-organised and attentive special educational needs provision is a strength of the care pupils receive. 4 Inspection Report: Mickleover Primary School, 22 September 2005 to 23 September 2005

p.6

Grade: 2

Leadership and management of the acting headteacher and senior staff are good. They have managed the school effectively in the absence of the headteacher. The shared commitment of senior managers to improving provision and raising standards for pupils of all capabilities and backgrounds is outstanding. Inspectors agree that the self evaluation shows that senior managers have a good knowledge of the school's strengths and areas for improvement and use this information well to raise standards. For example, as a result of their accurate and detailed analysis of the 2004 national test results, they immediately put in place effective measures to raise standards further. The positive results of their strong teamwork and good management are clear as standards are rising. Staff ensure that parents are regularly consulted and take views of parents seriously. Strong leadership has ensured that good systems are now in place

p.7

Grade: 2

for evaluating standards and checking the quality of teaching and learning. Subject co-ordinators have developed their roles effectively in monitoring the quality of teaching and learning for their subjects by observing lessons, checking teachers' planning and looking at pupils' work. They also report to governors on how their subjects are developing. As a result, they are able to pinpoint accurately where improvements are needed to develop teaching and raise standards. The governing body fulfils its statutory duties well and provides good support for the school. Through their regular visits and discussions with staff, governors know the school very well and monitor its work closely. Resources are good and those for ICT have improved significantly since the last inspection. The school has very good links with the local community and with partner secondary schools. Pupils are well prepared for the next

p.7

Grade: 2

stage of their education, which is confirmed by the views of parents. 5 Inspection Report: Mickleover Primary School, 22 September 2005 to 23 September 2005 .

p.7

set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s

website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: Mickleover Primary School, 22 September 2005 to 23 September 2005

p.8

Overall

Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

p.9

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 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

p.9

Achievement and standards

NA 2 How well do learners achieve? NA 2 The standards 1 reached by learners

p.9

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

p.9

learners?

NA 2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 1 The behaviour of learners NA 1 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 1 How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

p.9

needs and interests of learners?

NA 1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

p.9

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.

p.9

and supporting all learners?

NA 2 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

p.10

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

p.10

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

p.10

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

p.10

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

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

We enjoyed our visit to your school and would like to thank all those children who shared their work with us and talked to us. We thought your school was good and we were very impressed by how friendly and helpful staff and pupils were. You all seemed to enjoy school and everyone seemed to get on so well together. These are the things your school does well: - Every year your test results show that you are doing well and nearly all of you are making good progress, particularly in reading and mathematics. - You clearly enjoy school and your parents' letters to us show that they share your positive views about the school. - Teaching in your school is good. Teachers make you work hard, help you when you get stuck and your lessons are enjoyable. - The school council makes some good suggestions and we were very impressed by the way a school governor attends your meetings and makes sure that your suggestions are acted upon,

p.11

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

such as school recycling. - Your school is well run and everyone, including the governors, does their best for you. The purpose of the inspection is to help your school improve. These are the areas where improvement is needed: - The progress you make in English and science are not as good as in mathematics and you all need to work together to improve this. - Staff and governors need to make sure that they develop their plans to help children with special gifts and talents to learn more. We hope you all continue to enjoy your learning and we wish you and the school well. Best wishes

p.11