St Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Child Okeford

Inspection Report St Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Child Okeford

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113796 Unique Reference Number Dorset LEA 279251 Inspection number 22 June 2006 to 22 June 2006 Inspection dates Diane Wilkinson AI Reporting inspector

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

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Station Road School address Primary Type of school Child Okeford Voluntary aided School category Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 8EL 4 to 11 Age range of pupils

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01258 860581 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01258 860581 Fax number 101 Number on roll Lady Maryanna Tavener Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs S Marsh Headteacher 8 November 1999 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 279251 22 June 2006 - 4 to 11 22 June 2006 Inspection Report: St Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Child Okeford, 22 June 2006 to 22 June 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 two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is a small village school of four classes, most of which have more than one year group. The school is popular and pupils come from a wide area and a range of backgrounds. Very few come from minority ethnic groups and all speak English fluently. Standards on entry to Reception are broadly average. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is currently above average, although this varies significantly between year groups. The school holds the Sportsmark Gold and Healthy Schools Awards.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Child Okeford, 22 June 2006 to 22 June

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Grade: 2

St Nicholas Primary School is a good and improving school with outstanding features in some aspects of its work. This agrees with the school’s view of itself. Since the last inspection, school development has been hampered by significant staff changes and absences which slowed progress in some classes, particularly in Years 1 and 2, and contributed to weaknesses in boys’ writing. Despite this, the exceptional quality of the school’s evaluation of its work and an accurate analysis of how to improve, together with outstanding leadership by the headteacher, has meant the school has improved well and standards at the end of Year 6 are above average. It gives good value for money. Very good strategic appointments of new staff and the firm commitment of the whole school community to strive for the very best quality learning means the school is exceptionally well placed to improve further. Pupils’ personal development is outstanding and behaviour and relationships are

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Grade: 2

excellent. The school is a very happy and safe place to be. Staff enjoy working there and are committed to doing their best for pupils. Pupils love school and their good progress is effectively supported by consistently good teaching and a rich and interesting curriculum. Pupils are exceptionally well involved in all aspects of school life and are increasingly helping to check on their own progress which is inspiring them to do even better. Provision and standards in the Foundation Stage are good. The school has an outstanding partnership with parents and the local community. For example, together they have raised two thirds of the funding for accommodation to house the local playgroup and Reception class to ensure children have a consistent approach in developing their early learning skills.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Improve the rate of progress made by Year 1 and 2 pupils. • Improve the quality of boys’ writing.

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Grade: 2

Pupils achieve well. Standards by the end of Year 6 have risen well since the last inspection. The school reaches the challenging targets it has set and this year a good number of pupils exceeded their personal targets. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities receive effective support and make the same good progress as their classmates. Due to outstanding teaching in Years 5 and 6, some of these pupils achieve very well. Reception children make good progress because of effective teaching. Nearly all reach the standards expected by the time they enter Year 1 and exceed them in mathematics. The progress of pupils in Years 1 and 2 has been hampered by a number of staff absences and changes and is satisfactory overall. Last year, a significant minority of pupils, particularly the boys, did not make enough progress in writing. The school has 2 Inspection Report: St Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Child Okeford, 22 June 2006 to 22 June

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Grade: 2

acted swiftly to address this issue. This year, all pupils, including boys, have made at least satisfactory progress in writing and there is no underachievement. Standards in English and mathematics are average. In Years 3 to 6, pupils make good progress overall and very good progress in the Year 5/6 class where teaching is outstanding. Standards are better than in most schools, especially in mathematics.

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Grade: 1

Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is outstanding. Children are given a very good start in Reception so they get on well with each other and become enthusiastic about learning. Pupils’ ‘Recipe for a happy school’ describes it as one where there are ‘smiling children who work hard’, and this has been achieved. Children love school and their teachers and classroom assistants who, they say, ‘help you if you’re stuck’. Pupils’ very positive attitudes help ensure good attendance and good progress. Relationships and behaviour are outstanding. From the youngest class, pupils willingly accept responsibility and older pupils help care for younger ones. Spiritual development is excellent as the result of the many opportunities for reflection in the high quality assemblies and very effective links with the local church. Cultural development is very good because pupils have

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Grade: 1

access to high quality activities in art and music and the school places an effective emphasis on learning about other cultures. Pupils feel very safe and say adults will help them if they are hurt or upset. The very effective personal, social and health education programme means pupils are excellent at helping to secure their own health and safety. Pupils’ contribution to the school and wider community is outstanding. Through the work of the school council, pupils are very involved in helping to improve school life and organise extensive fund raising, including for third world countries. Pupils develop a good range of skills to help them in future life.

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Grade: 2

Teaching is consistently good throughout the school. It is rapidly improving and some is outstanding. The school’s commitment to provide well for each pupil is now being realised. In particular, very good diagnoses of the specific needs of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities means they are well provided for. As a result, all pupils are now making good progress throughout the school. In the past, the significant number of staff changes and absences limited pupils’ progress, particularly in Years 1 and 2. The school has made very good arrangements to address the weaknesses. Writing is now better taught and is beginning to improve progress, although the school recognises there is still more to do. 3 Inspection Report: St Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Child Okeford, 22 June 2006 to 22 June Very effective planning of lessons ensures challenging work and targets are set for

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Grade: 2

pupils, matched well to their abilities. Teachers explain things very well and make sure pupils understand what they are learning and what they need to do next. Classroom assistants support learning very well, particularly for pupils who find learning difficult. Throughout lessons, continual checking of how well pupils are doing encourages progress. Parents’ support for the work their children do at home is very good. Where teaching is of the highest quality, all adults and pupils engage frequently in discussions about how best to tackle work and this ensures pupils do the very best they can.

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Grade: 2

The good curriculum meets the varying needs of all pupils. Reception children make a good start and staff ensure that as many opportunities as possible are offered to help develop the whole child. This is built on throughout the school and pupils have opportunities both within and outside the classroom to develop their mental, physical, emotional and social skills. The school’s current focus on writing is beginning to improve boys’ performance, although the school recognises the strategies need to be consolidated and enhanced. Basic skills are reinforced in all subjects, for example, by encouraging pupils to write creatively and ensuring spelling is accurate in mathematics and science. Well chosen activities in all subjects, which are especially good in art and music, motivate pupils and inspire them to do well. An extensive programme of extra-curricular activities, some of which are organised by local residents, further enriches pupils’ learning. For

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Grade: 2

example, pupils learn French and are very keen to speak it.

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Grade: 2

Care, guidance and support are good overall and outstanding for pupils’ personal development. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about this aspect of the school’s work. One parent described it as ‘a friendly, caring and loving environment where children’s quest for knowledge is nurtured’. Pupils feel very happy and safe in school. Child protection and risk assessment procedures are well implemented and pupils speak very highly of the school’s support when they have problems. Classroom assistants provide very good support for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities which helps their good achievement. Guidance and support for pupils’ academic development are good overall and are rapidly improving in Years 1 and 2 because of more effective teaching. Pupils increasingly know what they have to do to improve and are beginning to assess their own and their classmates’ progress which further motivates them to do well.

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Grade: 2

4 Inspection Report: St Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Child Okeford, 22 June 2006 to 22 June

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good. The headteacher gives outstanding leadership and clear direction to maintain the school’s momentum of improvement. She has been instrumental in ensuring the school has continued to improve despite staff disruptions. She has the highest expectations of the pupils, and the firm commitment of staff and governors in working closely with her to ensure a happy and secure environment for each child. As a result, pupils’ experience of learning is consistently good. The assistant headteacher gives very good support and subject coordinators are beginning to help drive improvement. Pupils, who are courteous and helpful, emulate adults who consistently set a good example. The school takes exceptionally good account of parents’ views and its partnership with parents and the local community is outstanding. It works very well with a number of other agencies. These strengths make a very positive contribution to pupils’ education.

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Grade: 2

The school’s understanding of its strengths and weaknesses and how to improve is outstanding. Very effective tracking of pupils’ progress, together with high quality analyses of data, allow the school to pinpoint exactly where improvement is needed. Effective strategies are put in place to improve weaknesses and both staff and governors are successfully involved in monitoring progress. The determination and commitment of the whole school community has led to good improvement in the standard of boys’ writing and the rate of progress in Years 1 and 2, and a resolve to do even better, which ensures the school has an excellent capacity to improve. Governance is good. Through their regular visits and links with year groups, governors know the school well, effectively challenging senior managers in order to continue making improvements. 5 Inspection Report: St Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Child Okeford, 22 June 2006 to 22 June

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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 Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Child Okeford, 22 June 2006 to 22 June

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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 1 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 2 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 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 2 How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education NA 1 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

Thank you for welcoming us to your school and being so friendly and helpful. I particularly want to thank the special group and the school council who gave up their time to talk with me. You and your parents think your school is a very happy and safe place to be and that you do well there. We agree with you. What we found your school does well: • You enjoy school very much and your behaviour is excellent. • You are very kind and helpful to each other and, through your school council, you are working very hard to help your school improve. • You have an excellent headteacher and all the staff, governors, your parents and people in the village are working well together to help the school get even better. • The activities teachers plan for you are good and they teach you well so you make good progress. • All adults take good care of you. What we have asked your school to do now: • Carry on helping you to learn even faster, particularly pupils in Years 1 and 2. • Help you to

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

get better in your writing, particularly the boys. Thank you again for all your help and good luck for the future.

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