Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School

Inspection Report Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School

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119467 Unique Reference Number Lancashire LEA 280564 Inspection number 4 May 2006 to 5 May 2006 Inspection dates Mr Eric Jackson Reporting inspector

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

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Devonport Way School address Primary Type of school Chorley Voluntary aided School category Lancashire PR6 0TE 3 to 11 Age range of pupils 01257 264638 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01257 277196 Fax number 185 Number on roll Mrs Linda Norman Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Linda Roberts Headteacher 1 October 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 280564 4 May 2006 - 3 to 11 5 May 2006 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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

St James’ is a smaller than average school with 185 pupils on roll from ages 3 to 11. Socio-economic circumstances are below average, and pupils’ attainment at entry is generally below average. The number of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is broadly average, but the number with statements of special educational need is well above average. Twelve per cent of the pupils are from minority ethnic groups, mainly of British Asian heritage, some learning English as an additional language.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School, 4 May 2006 to 5 May 2006

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Grade: 2

This is a good school that has improved well since its last inspection, confirming the school’s own effective self-evaluation. A Year 6 boy summed this up as, ‘It’s St James’: it’s brilliant!’ The headteacher has led required change strongly, supported well by other key staff and governors. She has successfully promoted higher standards, a better quality of education and more effective personal development for the pupils. All pupils are fully involved in what the school offers, including those from minority ethnic groups and non-Christian faiths, so that inclusion is excellent. One parent wrote, ‘All the staff have been very positive and encouraging to my daughter’. This characterises the views of almost all parents and their children. Teaching and learning are good, so that challenging targets are achieved. From below average attainment at entry, pupils reached average standards in Year 6 national tests in 2005. The quality of provision

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Grade: 2

in the Nursery and Reception classes is good and many children reach close to the expected levels by Year 1. Pupils’ personal development and well-being are good, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Behaviour and attitudes to learning have improved strongly since the last inspection. However, there are insufficient opportunities for pupils to lead their own learning in Years 1 to 6. Pupils develop healthy lifestyles and their physical fitness effectively, and make good progress in skills that will be helpful in later working life. They take responsibility for aspects of the school’s life enthusiastically as monitors, prefects or school councillors. The curriculum is good, with rich activities to broaden pupils’ experience. The school cares for pupils well, and offers good support and guidance, particularly for those with learning difficulties. The school is well-placed to continue to improve and gives good value for money.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards in science by the end of Year 6 to at least match the levels attained in English and mathematics. • Provide more opportunities across the curriculum for pupils in Years 1 to 6 to initiate, develop and evaluate their own work.

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Grade: 2

Achievement is good across the school. Those pupils learning English as an additional language and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make similar progress to their peers. Children make good progress in the Nursery and Reception classes because the provision is good. From below average standards on entry, many of them reach close to the expected goals by Year 1, although speaking and listening skills are still below average. They continue to make good progress in Years 1 and 2, and attained average standards in reading, mathematics and science by the end of Year 2 in 2005. 2 Inspection Report: Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School, 4 May 2006 to 5 May 2006 This continues a rising trend in results from a low point in 2002. Learners in Year 6 also reached broadly average standards in English, mathematics and science in the 2005 tests, although standards in science were lower than those in English and

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Grade: 2

mathematics. This shows a good rise in standards overall since 2001. There was a slight dip in the 2004 results because of the higher than average number of pupils with learning difficulties in that cohort. The current Year 6, which includes a very high proportion of pupils with learning difficulties, has made good progress towards tough targets. From being well below average in the Year 2 tests in 2002, they have achieved well. Most of them are on track to reach the expected level in national tests.

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Grade: 2

Pupils’ personal development and well-being are good. They enjoy school and have good attitudes to learning. Behaviour is good overall: in some lessons and in assembly it is outstanding. They are positive that bullying is no longer a problem. Parents say that links developed between older pupils and younger children in ‘team days’ have made a big difference here. By Year 6, pupils are confident when explaining how they learn, saying, ‘the range of activities is really interesting’. Excellent relationships, leading to shared trust and confidence, reflect the school’s strong Christian ethos. Pupils relish their role as responsible members of their community. The school council plays an important role in the everyday life of the school, giving members good experience of decision-making. Pupils readily undertake tasks that contribute to the smooth running of the school. They know how to keep safe and to follow a healthy

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Grade: 2

lifestyle. They also play a full part in a programme of recycling as part of developing ecological awareness. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. They regularly raise money for charities and have an excellent understanding of right and wrong. They respect the different beliefs and values of others and show a good awareness of the community. Year 6 were adamant that unfair discrimination on grounds of ethnicity or faith would not be tolerated by anyone, adult or child. Pupils are developing personal and academic skills that will be valuable to them in adult life and at work. Attendance is satisfactory and improving.

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good and have improved since the last inspection. Teachers use their good subject knowledge to plan their lessons well. Pupils say, ‘We learn in steps, from easy to harder work.’ There is good teamwork between teachers and support staff, who work constructively together. Pupils clearly enjoy their work. For example, during a games lesson, a young child with speech delay talked audibly and excitedly to himself and his teacher as he gained increasing control of a football. There are good tracking systems for assessing, monitoring and evaluating pupils’ progress. This system is used to set challenging targets in English and mathematics from 3 Inspection Report: Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School, 4 May 2006 to 5 May 2006 year-to-year, carefully checked to ensure pupils make the expected progress. From Year 1, pupils know what they are to learn. Older pupils understand what they need

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Grade: 2

to do to improve their own work and to evaluate the work of others in their class, although there is scope to provide opportunities for more pupils to initiate, develop and evaluate their work. A teacher was absent during the inspection. It was clear from the ease with which a supply teacher maintained continuity in learning that the teacher and nursery nurse had organised lesson plans effectively.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good, confirming the school’s view. All statutory requirements are met and there is an appropriate emphasis on the basic skills of literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT). Teachers make learning interesting and enjoyable for the pupils because they keep the curriculum under constant review. They have begun the process of auditing and extending the planned work with the aim of making increasingly relevant links between areas of learning, as already takes place in the Nursery and Reception classes. Pupils in Years 1 to 6 do have some opportunities to initiate their own learning during special interest weeks when a variety of traditions and cultures are studied. However, this practice should be extended to increase their independence and raise standards further. The school provides an interesting range of cultural experiences and pupils have the opportunity to work with

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Grade: 2

artists, sporting experts and musicians.

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Grade: 2

The Christian ethos, safe environment and good relationships across the school reflect the effective care, guidance and support given to all pupils. The effective partnership of teachers, support staff, parents, the church community and outside agencies ensures the pupils’ well-being. Child protection procedures and all other risk assessments are in place. Pupils say they feel safe and would know who to turn to with any worries or concerns. Their academic progress is recorded and progress is carefully tracked and they know what they need to do to attain their personal and group targets in English and mathematics. However, pupils in Years 1 to 6 sometimes have insufficient guidance in making their own decisions about how to develop their learning further. The care and support given to pupils with learning, behavioural or emotional difficulties is well organised and enables them to work effectively, so that in most cases their progress

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Grade: 2

matches that of the other pupils in the class. Provision is also good for pupils from minority ethnic groups.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good, reflected in the school’s thorough and accurate self-evaluation. The headteacher is a strong leader, supported well by the deputy 4 Inspection Report: Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School, 4 May 2006 to 5 May 2006 headteacher and other key staff. She ensures that pupils are safe and well cared for, as well as setting high expectations for their achievement. Governance is good, and the relationship between all the adults in the school creates strong teamwork. Clear direction is set and followed in effective improvement planning. The issues raised by the inspection have already been recognised in current improvement plans. Quality assurance is well embedded and effective. Parents and pupils are fully involved and consulted regularly through questionnaires and meetings. Provision for equality of opportunity is outstanding so that all pupils are fully included in what the school

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Grade: 2

offers. Financial and other resources are deployed well. There is good capacity to improve, founded on good improvement since the last inspection. 5 Inspection Report: Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School, 4 May 2006 to 5 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: Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School, 4 May 2006 to 5 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 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 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 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

Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0207 421 6800 F 0207 421 6707 Ofsted helpline 08456 404045 Chorley St James' Church of England Primary School Devonport Way Chorley Lancashire PR6 0TE 7 May 2006 Dear Children Thank you very much for the kind welcome you gave to us when we visited your school. You will remember that we came to check how well your school looks after you and helps you to learn. You and your parents told us that St James’ is a good school that cares for you well. We agree: it is a good school that helps you develop good personal skills and to learn and achieve well. We were very impressed by how well you behave and how much you enjoy your lessons. When I talked with Year 6, they showed me that they believe strongly in everyone having the same chances to do well, and that no-one should be bullied or left out. Your governors and the staff also believe those things, and make sure that your school follows good rules that are fair for

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

everyone. They also provide many interesting things for you to do, which we know you enjoy. The staff plan to help you improve your work in science, and we agree with them that this is a good idea. They also want to give you more chances to take the lead in what you learn, and sometimes decide for yourselves what you would like to do. We think that this would improve how you learn, and help you reach even higher standards in your work. You can help by continuing to do your best, and trying to improve your experimenting and investigating in science. With best wishes for your future. Yours faithfully Eric JacksonHeather EvansGill Burrow Lead Inspector Team Inspector Observing Inspector

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