Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School

Inspection Report Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School

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114559 Unique Reference Number East Sussex LEA 279413 Inspection number 24 May 2006 to 25 May 2006 Inspection dates Rev Hartland HMI Reporting inspector

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

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Corseley Road School address Primary Type of school Groombridge Voluntary aided School category Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 9SF 4 to 11 Age range of pupils

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01892 864305 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01892 864305 Fax number 202 Number on roll Dr P C Steel Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Miss Angela Nicholls Headteacher 30 October 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 279413 24 May 2006 - 4 to 11 25 May 2006 Inspection Report: Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School, 24 May 2006 to 25 May 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 of Her Majesty’s Inspectors and one Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

Groombridge St Thomas is a voluntary aided Church of England village primary school. It is smaller than most primary schools. Standards on entry are broadly average. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is well below the national average. The percentage with learning difficulties is average. The number of pupils from minority ethnic communities is well below average, as is the number of those who have a first language other than English. The school has increased in size since the last inspection.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School, 24 May 2006 to 25 May 2006

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Grade: 1

Although the school judges itself to be good, inspectors believe that this is too modest and that it is an outstanding school which justly merits the high esteem in which it is held by parents. The school displays a very strong Christian ethos. It has many strengths and provides an excellent education for its pupils. All pupils make progress in their learning. Progress is best in mathematics in Years 3 to 6 where it is outstanding. This is as a result of the high expectations in the teaching and the high quality of the tracking of each pupil’s achievements which enable the right next steps in learning to take place. Provision for children in the Foundation Stage is good and children make a good start in the Reception Year. Pupils’ personal development is outstanding. Pupils very much enjoy being at school and their behaviour is excellent. They have very positive attitudes and feel safe and valued as individuals. All staff take very good care of them and know them well.

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Grade: 1

Teaching is excellent. Teachers make every effort to ensure that all pupils can learn and achieve their academic potential. The curriculum is good, although the extra-curricular provision is limited in scope. The leadership and management are excellent with highly effective teamwork. The headteacher provides exemplary and inspirational leadership. Some school policies are reviewed less frequently than is desirable. The school has been rigorous and highly successful in making improvements since the last inspection. Value for money is excellent. The school has a proven capacity to improve.

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What the school should do to improve further

•extend the range of extra-curricular provision to include a wider range of activities •ensure that the cycle of governors’ meetings includes regular opportunities for the review of school policies.

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Grade: 1

Achievement and standards are excellent. Children in the Reception Year make good progress towards the early learning goals, with many making better progress than might be expected. The school has exemplary procedures for tracking the progress of each child. The standards reached in the national tests, including the 2005 tests, at the end of Year 2 have been consistently above the national average in recent years. The results in reading last year were exceptionally high, with the number of pupils gaining the higher grades also above the national average. This is because of the school’s relentless focus on the importance of reading. At the end of Year 6, results in the national tests have been consistently above the national average in recent years. The 2005 national tests results were significantly above the national average, with results in mathematics being exceptionally high. The proportion of pupils who gained the higher levels of

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Grade: 1

2 Inspection Report: Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School, 24 May 2006 to 25 May 2006 attainment was above average. The school exceeded its challenging statutory targets in 2005. All pupils are making excellent progress, including those with learning difficulties and disabilities. There are no groups of pupils who are underachieving.

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Grade: 1

Personal development is outstanding. Excellent personal relationships amongst pupils and between pupils and teachers ensure that pupils are confident learners. Their behaviour is outstanding; they enjoy school and attend regularly. The importance of fostering positive relationships is engendered in pupils from a very early age through the ‘buddy system’. The effectiveness of this is very clearly demonstrated by a Year 1 pupil’s description of her Year 6 buddy as ‘warm and cuddly, who plays with me a lot’. This results in the extremely positive attitude which pupils have towards school. The great importance attached to providing pupils with opportunities, through assemblies and lessons, to reflect on topics such as bullying, friendship and peer pressure enables them to make exemplary progress in their their spiritual, moral and social development. In addition, the very good opportunities to learn about their own

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Grade: 1

and others’ cultures ensures that the pupils recognise and value diversity. The wide range of sporting activities, so expertly delivered, coupled with the importance attached to the need for a balanced diet, ensure that pupils develop very well a healthy lifestyle. The curriculum and assembly topics reinforce very effectively what pupils need to do to keep themselves and others safe. The emphasis placed on teamwork and collaborative working is demonstrated to excellent effect through the school council and in the Year 6 mini-enterprise work. These opportunities ensure that pupils develop in an exemplary manner the citizenship skills required for their future economic well-being.

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Grade: 1

Teaching is outstanding. As a consequence, pupils are highly motivated to achieve their maximum potential. They respond in an exemplary way to the teachers’ high expectations in terms of work and behaviour, showing genuine enjoyment in their learning. The teachers’ questioning is of the highest quality. It is precise and challenging and identifies very well pupils’ understanding. Answers, even when incorrect, are carefully considered and used to extend pupils’ ability. Teachers are exceptionally skilful at organising activities that enthuse pupils so that they become totally immersed in their work. Learning support assistants (LSA) contribute greatly to the quality of teaching and their unobtrusive but crucial support ensures that all pupils, including those with 3 Inspection Report: Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School, 24 May 2006 to 25 May 2006 learning difficulties, are fully included. A reassuring glance from one LSA was enough

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Grade: 1

to ensure that a Year 5 pupil had the confidence to contribute successfully in a science lesson about night and day. The look of satisfaction on the child’s face showed very clearly the considerable benefits of having an LSA in each classroom. The consistent way in which the school’s tracking procedures are followed ensures that teachers have an excellent understanding of where pupils are in their learning. Marking is good because it provides suitable encouragement and, where necessary, relevant comments aimed at improving pupils’ work.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good and improving. The last inspection judged that insufficient time was spent on the teaching of particular subjects. This is no longer the case because staff are now skilled in using teaching time effectively to develop the core skills of literacy and numeracy through other subjects. In addition, the range and depth of experiences available to pupils is reflected in the very good displays throughout the school that help to provide them with such a stimulating learning environment. The arts and physical education are particularly strong. The recent decision to implement required workforce reform by employing specialist part-time teachers has had a very positive effect on the quality of the curriculum in physical education, music and French. The school recognises where improvement is needed. For example, recent investment in information and communication technology has been effective and is beginning to achieve very good results. The formal curriculum

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Grade: 2

is well supported by visitors to the school and by visits off-site and pupils benefit from the good range of after- school clubs available to them, although the extra-curricular provision is limited in scope.

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Grade: 1

The quality of care, support and guidance is outstanding. This is because the work of the school is based on a very strong Christian ethos that attaches great importance to the welfare and care of the individual pupil. The huge success of this approach is summed up by a parent’s description of ‘a lovely nurturing school that is based on a caring, sharing and learning environment’. Pupils thrive in such an atmosphere and show a great awareness of the need for members of the school community to show care for each other and for those less fortunate than themselves. Pupils spoke with great pride about their efforts to support Anna, a child in Brazil. The very effective personal, social and health education curriculum and the excellent use that is made of outside professionals ensure that pupils are fully aware of the importance of seeking support, keeping safe and leading a healthy lifestyle. The school

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Grade: 1

provides a safe environment for pupils. However, it is less robust in ensuring that all statutory policies are regularly updated to reflect current guidance and good practice. 4 Inspection Report: Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School, 24 May 2006 to 25 May 2006 Procedures for monitoring academic progress are excellent. They include the use of highly effective systems of precise tracking and profiles of pupils’ achievements. It is impressive that pupils know their personal targets and appreciate the fact that they have the opportunity to influence what these should be.

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Grade: 1

The school judges its leadership and management to be good. Inspectors believe it is outstanding. The headteacher provides highly effective and inspirational leadership to ensure the school provides for the needs of every pupil. She is justifiably held in very high regard by governors, staff and parents. The headteacher is very ably supported by the senior leadership team and other staff with responsibilities who share the headteacher’s enthusiasm for and commitment to achieving the very highest standards in all areas. The school is very much a ‘learning community’ where the leaders willingly learn from others to be innovative and self-critical. The school has highly effective procedures for monitoring teaching and evaluates its work very well, taking into account the views of parents and pupils and acting well upon them. Parents are very happy with what the school offers and with the genuine care shown for their children. Governors play an active and effective role in improving

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Grade: 1

the work of the school and holding it to account. They have an accurate view of the school’s strengths and of those areas that need to be improved. The school believes, and the inspection findings confirm, that, under the resolute leadership of the headteacher, it has a very good capacity improve even further. 5 Inspection Report: Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School, 24 May 2006 to 25 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: Groombridge St Thomas' Church of England Primary School, 24 May 2006 to 25 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 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 1 How well do learners achieve? NA 1 The standards 1 reached by learners

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Achievement and standards

NA 1 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners NA 1 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 2 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

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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 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 1 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 am writing to you following the recent visit of two inspectors to your school to let you know what we think about the school. Thank you for your help in talking to us about the work you do and what you think about the school. We think your school is an excellent school which provides you with an extremely good education. We saw, and your parents told us, that everyone in your school takes very good care of you and you get on very well with each other. You told us how much you enjoy coming to school and explained that the teachers make the lessons interesting so that you can learn more easily. You told us that you feel safe and that there is always someone to talk to if you have a problem. Teachers listen carefully to what you say and the school council makes things happen. The school is excellent in helping you to grow into thoughtful young people. We saw that you are enthusiastic in lessons and, as a result, you all do very well, especially in

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

the tests you take in Year 2 and Year 6. Your behaviour is excellent in lessons and around the school. Your parents are very happy with the school and all that it provides for you. Your headteacher is an excellent leader. She and all the teachers work very hard to make the school even better for you. The school could do some things a little better. It could provide you with a wider range of activities outside lessons. Also, it could check rather more regularly on some of the policies it must have to help the school run smoothly. May I, on behalf of both inspectors, wish you all the very best for the future.

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