Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School

Inspection Report Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School

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119186 Unique Reference Number Lancashire LEA 280484 Inspection number 10 October 2005 to 11 October 2005 Inspection dates Andrew Margerison Reporting inspector

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

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Earl Street School address Primary Type of school Clayton-le-Moors Community School category Accrington, Lancashire 3 to 11 Age range of pupils 01254 232046 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01254 301797 Fax number 371 Number on roll Mr Moore Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs A Duke Headteacher 1 June 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 280484 10 October 2005 - 3 to 11 11 October 2005 Inspection Report: Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School, 10 October 2005 to 11 October 2005

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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 three additional inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is a large school situated in Clayton-le Moors near Accrington in Lancashire for pupils aged 3 to 11. It is situated in an area of socio-economic disadvantage. Overall attainment when pupils start school is below that usually seen. Very few pupils come from minority ethnic groups. An above average proportion of pupils have learning difficulties or disabilities. Since the last inspection, the school has come through a time of disturbance due to considerable changes in staff which, until recently, made it difficult for the headteacher and governors to establish a whole school approach to teaching and learning and school improvement. In the last year a new senior management team has been created and staffing has stabilised. A building programme has begun to establish a children’s centre as part of the school serving the local community.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School, 10 October 2005 to 11 October 2005

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Grade: 2

Inspectors agree with the school that Mount Pleasant Primary is a good school. The school is well led and managed. It knows itself well and its self-evaluation is generally accurate. Despite several changes in staff in recent years since last inspection, improvements have led to consistently good teaching and pupils’ achievement. As a result, children get a good start in the Foundation Stage and achieve well and standards in Years 2 and 6 are rising. Pupils enjoy school. They are supported and cared for very well and develop very strong moral and social values, although their understanding of other cultures and traditions is a weakness. Basic skills of literacy, numeracy and information and communications technology (ICT) are taught well, although there is more scope for pupils to develop different aspects of their writing. Overall, the school has improved well since the last inspection, gives good value for money and is well

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What the school should do to improve further

• Ensure that pupils develop a better understanding of the daily lives and traditions of children from different cultures. • Provide more opportunities for pupils to write about their ideas, opinions and feelings in lessons.

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Grade: 2

Pupils achieve well. Children start school with standards of literacy, language, mathematics and personal skills below average for their age. They work really hard and make good progress and most children achieve standards close to those expected by the end of reception. The few children learning English as an additional language make good progress as a result of the high quality of support they receive from support staff. The school’s results in national tests at the end of Key Stage 1 have gradually improved mainly because an increasing number of pupils reach the higher than expected level. • Results from this year’s tests indicate that this pattern is continuing. Results have generally been below average in Key Stage 2, mainly because of the small number of pupils reaching above the expected level. The school has successfully tackled this by carefully tracking the progress of pupils from the start of Year 2 so as to

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Grade: 2

spot those pupils who need extra help with their learning. As a result, the progress of all pupils has accelerated and in this year’s tests their performance was much better than in previous years and the number of pupils exceeding the expected level increased. Standards in Year 6 are currently average. Pupils with learning difficulties make very good progress and many reach the level expected for their age. 2 Inspection Report: Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School, 10 October 2005 to 11 October 2005

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Grade: 2

The pupils’ personal development is good. In the Foundation Stage the very youngest children learn to make choices and become independent. As they grow older pupils develop very strong moral and social values and this is reflected in their very positive attitudes and their exemplary behaviour. Pupils are proud that their school is a ‘bully free zone,’ and are confident that if bullying did occur the staff would immediately deal with it. Parents and pupils say that the vast majority really enjoy coming to school. The school is working closely with a few parents who do not ensure their children’s regular attendance. Attendance is satisfactory overall and improving. Pupils speak warmly of their teachers and enjoy the many exciting tasks and activities planned for them both in and out of school. They particularly enjoy lessons in which the teachers use the interactive white boards and make the lessons more interesting. Pupils

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Grade: 2

understand the importance of healthy snacks and lunches and are keen to take part in the many sporting activities planned for them during school time and after school. The school does much to make learners aware of other peoples, cultures and religions around the world. However, pupils know little about the daily lives and traditions of people from different cultures who live in nearby towns and cities.

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Grade: 2

The quality of teaching and learning is good. Teachers’ planning for pupils of different abilities is very effective and has improved as a result of recent action, and the higher attaining pupils are suitably challenged. Lessons include demanding activities and sharp, incisive questioning makes sure that teachers can check how well pupils learn and makes them really think hard. As a result, pupils do well and more each year are reaching above average levels in Years 2 and 6. The pupils’ written work lacks breadth. This is because the curriculum is not planned well enough for this so that, for example, the teachers do not ask the pupils often enough to write about their own views and ideas. Teachers’ increasingly effective use of computer technology grasps pupils’ attention and keeps them on their toes. Teaching assistants play a very important role in lessons, particularly in helping pupils with learning difficulties to make good progress.

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Grade: 2

They give good advice and encouragement to pupils but allow them to work things out for themselves. Teaching in the Foundation Stage is good. The activities are well planned so that children are constantly and purposefully engaged. There is a good balance between independent work and tasks led by adults. Good tracking of pupils’ progress provides teachers with a clear picture of how well their pupils are doing. Clear targets are set for each pupil and, as they grow older, they are increasingly involved in discussing with teachers how they are getting on. Pupils say that teachers help them improve their work so they know what they have to concentrate on to get better. 3 Inspection Report: Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School, 10 October 2005 to 11 October 2005

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good overall because it meets the needs of all learners well in nearly all respects. Pupils enjoy a wide range of enrichment activities in sports, music and drama and particularly like the visits that the school organises, for example, to Robinwood Outdoor Education Centre. A good programme of personal, social and health education, including sex education and the effects of drugs, is well planned to help pupils cope with dangers and changes in their lives. They have good opportunities to take responsibility around school, for example, as prefects or year group representatives. They are made aware of the importance of making a contribution to their community through recycling, fund raising and fire prevention projects. Basic skills of literacy, numeracy and ICT are well planned for. However, the English curriculum does not provide well enough for pupils to practise a broad range of writing styles,

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Grade: 2

for example, they lack opportunity to write about their personal ideas, feelings and opinions.

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Grade: 1

• Although the school judges this aspect of its work as good, inspectors find it outstanding. The care and welfare of pupils is embedded in the school’s work and are the foundation of pupils’ learning and personal development. Thorough and effective systems are in place to track individual pupils’ academic progress and to set them challenging targets but the school places an equally strong emphasis on pupils’ personal support and guidance. The learning mentor plays a vital role in supporting pupils and their families. Pupils greatly value this support and speak highly about the help they receive, for example, if they have personal problems owing to family bereavements or separation. The procedures for child protection are good and staff are vigilant in their care of vulnerable children. Parents also greatly appreciate the support they get from the school and are overwhelmingly pleased about the way that the school looks after

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Grade: 2

The leadership and management of the school are good. The school agrees with that judgement. The headteacher and senior leadership team very successfully promote a shared sense of direction, commitment and responsibility through out the school. There is a strong emphasis on ensuring that all learners succeed. This good leadership has resulted in rising standards. Senior managers know the strengths and weaknesses of the school well, as shown in their self-evaluation, and have correctly identified areas for future improvement, such as standards of writing. 4 Inspection Report: Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School, 10 October 2005 to 11 October 2005 The headteacher has put good systems in place to monitor teaching and learning. Teachers are given specific targets for improvement. This is leading to improvements in teaching so learners enjoy lessons and achieve well. Teachers and classroom assistants

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Grade: 2

work closely with external agencies to provide good support for all learners including those with learning difficulties. Parents are pleased with the education their children receive and feel that the school is well led and managed. Governors know the school well and are fully involved in its life and work. They play an active role in financial planning, support teachers and observe lessons. Resources are managed well with a firm focus on value for money. The school’s facilities have improved considerably since the last inspection and the building of the new children’s centre will enhance these further. • 5 Inspection Report: Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School, 10 October 2005 to 11 October 2005 .

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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: Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School, 10 October 2005 to 11 October 2005

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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 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 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 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

Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0207 421 6800 F 0207 421 6707 www.ofsted.gov.uk Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School Earl Street Clayton-le-Moors Accrington Lancashire BB5 5NH 12 October 2005 Dear Children Thank you very much for welcoming us to your school this week. We enjoyed talking to you and finding out about all the things you do. You were very polite and friendly and we would liked to have been able to stay longer. We are pleased to tell you that we agree with you and your parents that your school is doing a good job and that you are helping to make it better all the time. These were the things we particularly liked. Your behaviour is excellent and you work very hard in lessons. The school really cares you all equally and looks after you superbly. Teachers make sure you do well in reading, maths and science. Your headteacher and the governors know what your school does well and how they want to

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

make it better. We have asked your headteacher and the governors to do two things to make your school even better. Give you more chances to find out about the daily lives and traditions of children from different backgrounds who live nearby. Improve your writing by giving you more chances to write about your feelings and opinions in lessons. Thank you for helping us so much with the inspection. We hope you will carry on enjoying learning and helping to make your school such a happy place to be. With best wishes Andy MargerisonAnn WallisCarole Cressey Lead InspectorInspectorInspector Annex B

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