Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary

Inspection Report Worcester, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary

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116921 Unique Reference Number Worcestershire LEA 279949 Inspection number 7 March 2006 to 8 March 2006 Inspection dates Peter Callow AI Reporting inspector

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

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Bransford Road School address Primary Type of school Worcester Voluntary aided School category Worcestershire WR2 4EN 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01905 421409 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01905 424064 Fax number 190 Number on roll Mr Philip Carney Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Joan Field Headteacher 26 June 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 279949 7 March 2006 - 4 to 11 8 March 2006 Inspection Report: Worcester, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary, 7 March 2006 to 8 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 two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

The school is smaller than average. It draws its pupils from a wide catchment area which is outside the ward in which the school is situated. Approximately 65% of its pupils are Catholic. The mobility of pupils is above average, as is the percentage of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities. The percentage of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and those whose first language is not English is just below average.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Worcester, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary, 7 March 2006 to 8 March 2006

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Grade: 2

Our Lady Queen of Peace is a good school. Achievement has improved significantly since the time of the last inspection. Children enter the school with average standards except in communication, language and literacy which are below average. They make good progress and leave school with standards that are above average. This confirms the school’s view that its effectiveness is good and that it provides good value for money. Children make good progress in speaking and listening and satisfactory progress in other aspects of literacy and areas of the curriculum in the Foundation Stage, so that at the end standards are broadly average. Good teaching and a curriculum that meets the needs of young learners ensure good provision. As a result of good monitoring and effective self-evaluation, school leaders know its strengths and weaknesses well. They are effective in putting into place well planned strategies, where needed, which are continuing to improve progress. The use of

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Grade: 2

assessment data to identify accurately the learning needs of pupils is still in the early stages of development. Teaching is good throughout the school. As a result of high expectations, all groups of pupils make good progress in their work, including those who have found learning difficult in other schools. The caring ethos and concern for the needs of the individual child ensure that their personal development and well-being are good. There are insufficient opportunities to develop the cultural awareness of pupils across the curriculum. The behaviour of pupils is outstanding. The curriculum is good and the weakness in science identified at the time of the last inspection is now a strength. Other weaknesses have been addressed as the result of the strong leadership of the headteacher and the commitment and support of the staff team and governors. The school has good capacity to continue to improve.

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What the school should do to improve further

•Further refine the use of assessment data to identify more accurately the learning needs of pupils. •Extend the opportunities given to pupils to prepare for life in a multicultural society.

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Grade: 2

The achievement of pupils is good. Standards have improved significantly throughout the school since the time of the last inspection and pupils now leave with standards that are above average. In 2005 they were exceptionally good. More able pupils and those with learning difficulties make good progress because work is well matched to their needs. Pupils from minority ethnic groups and those whose first language is not English make good progress. 2 Inspection Report: Worcester, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary, 7 March 2006 to 8 March 2006 Children enter the school with average standards, except in communication, language and literacy because a significant number have underdeveloped skills in speaking and listening. They make good progress in this area of learning in the Foundation Stage and satisfactory progress in other areas so that at the end standards are average. Standards at the end of Key Stage 1 are average and progress is satisfactory. Standards

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Grade: 2

are improving quickly as a result of the strategies introduced to increase the progress of pupils. For example the ‘Write Dance’ programme is helping to develop the literacy and physical skills of the youngest pupils. The focus on authors’ use of language is improving writing skills, both in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, but not all pupils are quite yet meeting the standards expected of them in writing. Progress is good in Key Stage 2 and leads to standards that are above average by the end.

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Grade: 2

Pupils’ personal development and well-being are good. Pupils’ spiritual development is fostered very well through close links with the local church, assemblies and through music and art. Pupils have a very strong sense of right and wrong. They work very well with each other and adults. Behaviour is outstanding in lessons and around the school. It results in pupils working hard and cooperatively and wanting to learn. Pupils’ awareness of healthy eating is encouraged through an award system for pupils who choose healthy options at lunch. The school is currently applying for the Healthy School’s award. Pupils learn about other religions and ways of life through religious education, geography and history lessons but overall there are not enough opportunities to prepare them for life in a multicultural society. There are strong links with the local community through contacts with secondary schools, libraries, residential courses and,

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Grade: 2

for example, the school choir taking part in the Mencap Christmas concert. Pupils make good academic progress. They are very well prepared for the next stage of education and thoroughly enjoy school. Attendance is improving because of the effective measures the school has in place and is now broadly average.

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good across the school, including in science which was unsatisfactory at the time of the last inspection. Pupils make good progress because of teachers’ high expectations and the challenge of the work set. Teachers have good subject knowledge and planning takes account of the wide range of pupils’ needs. Learning objectives are made clear to pupils through key questions and give a clear focus to lessons. The pace of lessons is generally good but sometimes a lack of a change in pace results in a small number of pupils becoming less attentive. 3 Inspection Report: Worcester, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary, 7 March 2006 to 8 March 2006 Good classroom management and high expectations of behaviour ensure a positive attitude to work by pupils. Teachers use a wide range of questions and use them skilfully to involve all pupils. Teaching assistants are used well to support pupils with

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Grade: 2

learning difficulties and disabilities to make good progress. Marking is completed regularly and identifies well the extent to which pupils have met the learning objectives. Next learning steps are not always identified so that pupils know what they need to do to improve. The comments about the context of the work and the adult support given, provided with the assessment of younger pupils’ work, are particularly helpful in judging their progress.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good. It is well planned, meets statutory requirements and ensures pupils make good progress. The range of work matches the needs of pupils well, including those with learning difficulties and disabilities. Provision for literacy and numeracy are good and satisfactory for information and communication technology. Good cross-curricular links between subjects are beginning to be identified to enable knowledge, understanding and skills learned in one part of the curriculum to be applied and consolidated in another. However, this is at an early stage of development. Pupils have good opportunities to take on responsibilities within the school community, and do so with great enthusiasm. The curriculum is supported with a good range of visits and visitors to engender interest and fun and to stimulate learning. The school has a suitable range of extra curricular activities and pupils express significant interest

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Grade: 2

and enjoyment in them. The school’s provision for French is extending pupils’ learning opportunities and preparing them for adult life.

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Grade: 2

All the adults’ great commitment to the care, guidance and support of the pupils in their care results in good provision. Pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities are identified at a very early stage and supported well. There are very good and extensive links with outside agencies to support these and other vulnerable pupils. The school child protection policy is understood by staff and is regularly reviewed. Parents and pupils report that pupils feel safe in school and are well aware of procedures they can use if they have worries or concerns. There are good links with parents. The school monitors pupils’ progress well. The use of assessment data, however, is not sufficiently refined to ensure pupils make the best possible progress based on their previous attainment and identified needs. Pupils understand their targets and want to achieve well. 4 Inspection Report: Worcester, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary, 7 March 2006 to 8 March 2006

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Grade: 2

The leadership and management of the school are good. The significant improvement in standards across the school is the result of the strong leadership of the headteacher. The commitment of the staff team has supported this improvement. It has taken place in an ethos of valuing each child and promoting his or her personal development and well-being. The school very successfully integrates a number of vulnerable pupils from other schools and enables them to make good all-round progress. The headteacher is well supported by the deputy headteacher and subject leaders who take a prominent and effective role in putting strategies into place to bring about improvement. The headteacher has made a sound start to using pupil assessment data to inform improvements in teaching and learning but other leaders’ use of data is underdeveloped. There are good procedures in place for monitoring and evaluating the work of the

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Grade: 2

school which involve all leaders, including governors. These procedures are making an important contribution to raising standards by identifying strengths and weaknesses in teaching and learning which leaders then act on. The governing body fulfils all its statutory requirements, supports the school well and is fully engaged in the school’s self-evaluation. This effective partnership and feedback from parents help the leaders to know the school well and its judgements about its performance are secure. All the issues raised at the time of the last inspection have been successfully addressed and this has led to the good achievement of all pupils. The school makes good use of its resources and, as a result of the good progress made by pupils, gives good value for money. 5 Inspection Report: Worcester, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary, 7 March 2006 to 8 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: Worcester, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary, 7 March 2006 to 8 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 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 2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 1 The behaviour of learners NA 3 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 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 2 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 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

Dear Pupils Thank you for being so polite and friendly when we visited your school recently. You made us feel very welcome. What we liked most about your school •You go to a good school. •Your behaviour is excellent. •The leaders of your school have improved it a lot so that now when pupils leave, the standards of their work are above average. •The adults care for you and make sure that you have a happy school to learn in. •Your teachers help all of you to make good progress. What we have asked your school to do now •Make sure that it knows exactly what is needed to help you to always make good progress in your learning. •Give you more opportunities to learn about the way different people in the world live their lives. Yours sincerely Mr P Callow Lead Inspector

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