Our Lady and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Brooms

Inspection Report Our Lady and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Brooms

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114253 Unique Reference Number Durham LEA 279347 Inspection number 30 March 2006 to 31 March 2006 Inspection dates Mrs Shirley Herring Reporting inspector

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

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St Ives Road School address Primary Type of school Leadgate Voluntary aided School category Consett, County Durham DH8 7SN 4 to 11 Age range of pupils

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01207 503979 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01207 503979 Fax number 127 Number on roll Mr Tom Clark Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Sharon Fenwick Headteacher 1 October 1999 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 279347 30 March 2006 - 4 to 11 31 March 2006 Inspection Report: Our Lady and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Brooms, 30 March 2006 to 31 March 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 one additional inspector.

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Description of the school

Our Lady and St Joseph’s is a small Catholic, village primary school. It is a popular school that has very close links with the local parish community. All four classes contain mixed-age groups. The number of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is above average. Though no child currently has a statement for their needs, the system of banding in the local authority indicates a higher than average proportion of pupils who require specific learning support. Almost all the children are from a white British background. Two children on the school roll are from the Travelling community. There are indications of above average social deprivation. Children enter the reception class with below average skills, particularly speaking skills. The school received an achievement award in 2003.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Our Lady and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Brooms, 30 March 2006 to 31 March 2006

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Grade: 2

The inspector agrees with the school and parents that this is a good school that gives good value for money. Standards are average when pupils leave school and achievement is good. Personal development, firmly based on the school’s Catholic ethos, is good. Teaching is good overall and is strongest in the reception class and Years 5 and 6. The curriculum is well planned to meet the needs of pupils in mixed-age classes and a good range of visits enhances learning. The school plans good activities for pupils to improve their speaking skills, but planning for writing is less systematic. Pupils receive a good level of care and support, but many pupils are not aware of their own targets for improvement. The headteacher’s leadership and management are good and stem from her high aspirations to raise standards. The provision for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well organised so that they achieve well. Many coordinators are

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Grade: 2

new to their responsibilities and their management role is underdeveloped. Assessment information is not organised to track pupils’ progress through the school. Provision in the Foundation Stage is good. This significant improvement since the last inspection indicates the school’s capacity to improve further. The school has good links with the parish and organisations that support families and children. not applicable

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What the school should do to improve further

• Quicken the pace of lessons to the level of those in the Foundation Stage and in Year 5 and Year 6. • Develop the role of the coordinators to monitor standards, achievement and assessment. • Organise assessment information to track pupils’ progress through the school and ensure that all pupils are aware of their own targets for improvement.

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Grade: 2

Standards are average by the time pupils leave school and achievement is good. Achievement is accelerated in reception and Year 5 and 6 because of the consistently good teaching in these years. Children enter the reception class with levels of attainment that are below average and the speaking skills of some children are poor. Good teaching in the reception class and specialist language support enable children to achieve well. By the end of reception, children’s social and mathematical skills are average, though their communication and language skills are below average, but improving. Achievement is satisfactory in Years 1 and 2, where teaching is sound. In the 2005 national tests at the end of Year 2, standards in writing and science were average, and standards in reading and mathematics were below average. Achievement is good at the end of Year 6 because of the consistently good teaching in Year 5 and Year 6. In

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Grade: 2

2 Inspection Report: Our Lady and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Brooms, 30 March 2006 to 31 March 2006 the 2005 national tests standards were average in mathematics, slightly above average in science but below average in English. This followed some disruption in staffing in the final term. Pupils are currently on line to achieve their challenging targets. Work is currently average in English and above average in mathematics and science, with a high proportion of pupils working at the higher levels. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are well supported and achieve well.

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Grade: 2

Personal development is good and is firmly based on the school’s Catholic ethos. Clear rules and sanctions that are understood by the pupils encourage good behaviour. The school uses a good range of strategies and support effectively to deal with pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties. In particular, there is a high level of support in Year 2 to deal with the high proportion of pupils with challenging behaviour in that year. Pupils generally settle quickly to their tasks and have good attitudes to learning. They report that adults deal promptly with the very occasional instances of bullying. Attendance is average. Pupils have a good understanding of healthy lifestyles which the school encourages by providing fresh fruit and healthy lunches. They understand the need to work and play safely, for example by responding to clear instructions for handling science equipment and taking part in initiatives such as cycling proficiency

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Grade: 2

and anti bullying week. Pupils make a good contribution to the community through the school council, involvement in Parish activities and support for charities such as CAFOD, the Catholic agency for overseas development. They are prepared for future well-being by the school’s good attention to basic skills and the opportunities to work together. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. The school makes particular efforts to raise multicultural awareness.

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good overall. Teaching in reception and Year 5 and Year 6 is consistently good so that pupils make particularly good progress in these classes. The good teaching is characterised by interesting activities that are managed well and by thorough planning which takes full account of careful assessments of pupils’ work. In the teaching judged to be satisfactory, the pace of lessons slows and the attention of some pupils wanes. A strong feature of teaching throughout the school is the good contribution of the skilled teaching assistants, who support learning well. Teaching for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well organised in class and in small groups with the result that they learn well. 3 Inspection Report: Our Lady and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Brooms, 30 March 2006 to 31 March 2006

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good. Good planning for the needs of pupils in mixed-age classes covers all subjects. The organisation of teaching groups for literacy and numeracy to include pupils of similar age and ability helps staff to plan work at the correct level. The good programme for developing personal, social and health education contributes well to pupils’ personal development and has parental support. There is a good emphasis on developing speaking skills in all lessons, though planning for writing in other subjects is less systematic. Information and communication technology (ICT) is used well to enhance learning. A good range of visits in all classes extends learning. Older pupils spoke knowledgeably about their geography field trip to trace the River Derwent from its source to the sea. The curriculum in the Foundation Stage is good. It is firmly based on suitably practical activities in all areas of learning which meet the needs of young

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Grade: 2

children well. This is a great improvement since the last inspection.

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Grade: 3

The school takes good care of its pupils. All statutory requirements regarding risk assessments and personnel checks are in place. The generous level of teaching assistants contributes to a good level of support for pupils with learning or behaviour difficulties. The school is quick to identify any areas of need and seek necessary specialist advice at an early stage. This has been particularly effective in supporting pupils with speech and language difficulties. In Year 5 and Year 6 pupils are well aware of what they need to do to improve, through their individual literacy and numeracy targets. However, this good practice in using targets is not consistent through the school.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good overall. The leadership of the headteacher is good and her high aspirations have contributed to pupils’ good achievement and personal development. The decision to spend resources on additional support staff has raised achievement. Provision for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well managed and they achieve well. The school is committed to equal opportunities for all and the organisation of teaching groups supports all pupils well. The school’s self-evaluation is accurate and has been used to set challenging targets for improvement. Questionnaires seek and take account of parents’ views. Regular assessments provide considerable information about individual pupils. However, the recording systems in place are not effective in tracking pupils’ progress across the school. The good leadership and management of the Foundation Stage have led to good improvements since the last inspection. This indicates the school’s capacity to

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Grade: 2

improve further. Many coordinators are new to their area of responsibility and their role in monitoring teaching, standards and achievement is not yet developed. The literacy coordinator has recently been appointed as a leading literacy teacher, though 4 Inspection Report: Our Lady and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Brooms, 30 March 2006 to 31 March 2006 there has not yet been the opportunity for her to share her expertise with other teachers in school. Governance is satisfactory. The governing body is supportive and well informed, but has limited first hand experience of the day to day running of the school. 5 Inspection Report: Our Lady and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Brooms, 30 March 2006 to 31 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: Our Lady and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Brooms, 30 March 2006 to 31 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 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 3 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 2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 2 The behaviour of learners NA 3 The attendance of learners NA 3 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 2 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 The Children Our Lady and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Brooms St Ives Road Leadgate Consett County Durham DH8 7SN 31 March 2006 Dear Children, Thank you for making me so welcome when I inspected your school. You told me how much you like your school and how well all the adults take care of you. I was impressed by how well you behave in class and in the playground. Mrs Fenwick organises the school well. I think you have good teachers who help you to learn well in English, mathematics and science. All the adults work really hard to help those of you who find it difficult to learn or to behave. I hope you will help them by doing your best. I have asked Mrs Fenwick to encourage teachers to share their ideas with each other, so that all your lessons will be good. I have also asked the teachers to make sure that you all know

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

your own targets to help you to improve. I would like Mrs Fenwick to keep all your test results together so that she can see the progress you are making from reception to Year 6. Yours faithfully Mrs Herring Lead Inspector

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