Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School

Inspection Report Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School

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119539 Unique Reference Number Lancashire LEA 280586 Inspection number 28 March 2006 to 29 March 2006 Inspection dates Mr Dave Byrne Reporting inspector

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

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Lancaster Road School address Primary Type of school Overton Voluntary aided School category Morecambe, Lancashire LA3 3EZ 4 to 11 Age range of pupils

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01524 858615 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01524 858615 Fax number 180 Number on roll Rev David Newton Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Sammy Clarke Headteacher 1 May 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 280586 28 March 2006 - 4 to 11 29 March 2006 Inspection Report: Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School, 28 March 2006 to 29 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

This is a small school in a rural location. Children’s attainment when they start school is above average. A below average percentage of children are eligible for free school meals and the proportion with learning and behavioural difficulties is low. Virtually all children are of white British origin with none requiring support for English as an additional language. There have been many unavoidable staff changes in the last 18 months and the headteacher has been in post for two terms.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School, 28 March 2006 to 29 March 2006

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Grade: 3

This is a satisfactory school. A strong Christian ethos contributes to children behaving well, forming good relationships and enjoying learning. Sound teaching results in children making satisfactory progress. The quality of education in the Foundation Stage is satisfactory and children achieve standards expected for their ages. At the end of Key Stages 1 and 2 standards are above average in English and mathematics and average in science and information and communication technology (ICT). More able children, however, could do better and their achievement is inadequate. A satisfactory curriculum is enhanced by a good range of extra-curricular clubs. Links between subjects are not exploited enough to inspire learning or to enable children to think and act on their own. The school is caring, safe and secure and children develop a sound knowledge and understanding of how to live healthily and keep safe. Recent

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Grade: 3

initiatives show that children’s views are valued, but they are not involved enough in the assessment of their work. Moral and social development is good, but children have a weak understanding of the diversity of cultures in Britain. The vast majority of parents value the school and willingly get involved in their children’s education. Good leadership by the new headteacher has created a strong staff team. Together they are improving standards after a period of static growth caused by unavoidable staffing disruptions. The school’s self-evaluation is accurate. It identifies many areas for improvement. These include improving assessment so that teachers can effectively monitor standards and learning in all subjects. The school gives satisfactory value for money. not applicable

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise the achievement of the more able. • Improve assessment to involve children more closely and to enable teachers to monitor learning effectively in all subjects. • Improve the curriculum by making better links between subjects, creating more opportunities for children to think and act on their own and by making better provision for multi-cultural education.

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Grade: 3

While standards at the end of Year 6 are above average overall, achievement is only satisfactory given the above average attainment when children start school. Progress is satisfactory overall for the majority of children including those with learning and behavioural difficulties; however, the more able children do not make adequate progress. Every year since 2000, standards in Year 2 have been significantly above average with a particular strength in reading. In 2005, standards at the end of Key Stage 2 were above average in English and average in mathematics and science. Standards are rising in Key Stage 2 and, in 2006, children are well set to reach challenging targets for English and mathematics. This means that standards are now 2 Inspection Report: Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School, 28 March 2006 to 29 March 2006 above average overall in both of these subjects. In science and ICT, standards in Year

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Grade: 3

6 are average although children could do better in performing scientific investigations.

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Grade: 3

Personal development is satisfactory. Parents are justified in their view that their children enjoy school. The children’s good behaviour and attitudes, their enjoyment for learning and their good attendance provide a secure foundation for their future economic well-being. During playtime, one child volunteered her opinion that, ‘This is a great place to be. I feel safe and am never bullied’. This comment reflects the good levels of moral and social development and warm relationships amongst children and adults. The children’s understanding of the rich diversity of cultures in Britain is, however, weak. Children have a satisfactory awareness of how to be healthy benefiting within school from such initiatives as the National Fruit Scheme. Children know about the importance of exercise and many participate willingly in sporting activities both in lessons and at after-school clubs. A shortage of outdoor equipment at break times,

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Grade: 3

however, limits children from taking regular exercise throughout the day. The children’s personal contribution to the school and wider community is satisfactory. They raise funds and plan events for charity. The school is in the early stages of giving children additional responsibilities through the school council. In other respects they do not have sufficient opportunities to take on duties to help in running aspects of the school.

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are satisfactory overall with some instances of good teaching. Recent staff disruptions have contributed to some significant differences in the way that teachers work. The variations are most noticeable in the use of assessment, in the expectations for the more able and in the opportunities provided for children to think and act on their own. While children enjoy all lessons, they respond particularly well to expectations for them to use practical skills. Such opportunities are however too few. Throughout the school teachers have sound subject knowledge and make good use of recently installed ICT resources to enhance learning in lessons. Lesson planning and organisation are satisfactory. Not enough time is given though for children to evaluate how well they have learnt and to set targets for future improvement. The needs of the less able children and those of children with average attainment are well

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Grade: 3

catered for but more able children are often not challenged enough. Teaching assistants make a vital contribution to children’s learning. This is particularly so in the Foundation Stage and in supporting children with learning and behavioural difficulties across the school. 3 Inspection Report: Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School, 28 March 2006 to 29 March 2006

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Grade: 3

The curriculum meets requirements but it is not planned imaginatively. The school recognises this, and is in the process of establishing closer links between subjects to make work for the children more meaningful. The Foundation Stage curriculum has improved since the last inspection with the provision of a better range of practical activities. In Key Stages 1 and 2, a good emphasis is given to literacy, numeracy and ICT but not enough time is given to developing children’s independent learning. The provision for children with learning and behavioural difficulties is satisfactory, but not enough attention is given to adapting the curriculum to meet the needs of the more able. A good range of well attended after-school activities extends the curriculum and a satisfactory range of educational visits and visitors enriches learning further. Personal, social and health education and citizenship are satisfactory. They contribute positively

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Grade: 3

to children’s personal development except in developing children’s knowledge and understanding of our multicultural society.

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Grade: 3

Provision is satisfactory overall with good quality levels of personal care and support. Parents are accurate in their views that the school is a safe and secure place. Procedures to promote child protection, safety and healthy lifestyles are effectively managed. Skilled teaching assistants and teachers give effective support to children with learning and behavioural difficulties. The quality of support for the more able however is not well organised and holds back the achievement of these children. Assessment is effective in English and mathematics but in other subjects it is weak. The involvement of children in assessing their own progress towards agreed targets for improvement is developing well but is not yet embedded across the school. This reduces progress. Communication with parents is good and encourages support at home. Effective links with other schools ease children’s transition to the next stage of their education.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. The vision and commitment of the headteacher have restored the school’s educational direction after a time of considerable disruption. Morale among staff is good and some effective strategies are being implemented successfully to raise achievement, particularly in Key Stage 2. The instability in staffing has affected the quality of monitoring of standards and learning. It is effective in English, mathematics, science and ICT, but inadequate in other subjects. The management of the Foundation Stage, and for children with learning and behavioural difficulties, is satisfactory but for the more able it is weak. Accommodation and resources are wisely used and the headteacher is successfully harnessing the qualities and skills of the staff. The governing body is very supportive and ensures that all statutory requirements are met. It makes sure that school self-evaluation is

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Grade: 3

4 Inspection Report: Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School, 28 March 2006 to 29 March 2006 accurate and that a clear agenda for improvement is established. Staffing disruptions have held back the rate of improvement since the last inspection and it has only been satisfactory. The renewed vigour and direction of staff and governors are improving the school and there is a good capacity for further improvement in future. 5 Inspection Report: Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School, 28 March 2006 to 29 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: Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School, 28 March 2006 to 29 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 3 How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? NA 3 The quality and standards in foundation stage NA 3 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 3 How well do learners achieve? NA 2 The standards 1 reached by learners

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Achievement and standards

NA 3 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners NA 3 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

NA 3 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 2 The behaviour of learners NA 2 The attendance of learners NA 2 How well learners enjoy their education NA 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices NA 3 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles NA 3 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community NA 3 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 4 How effectively performance is monitored, evaluated and improved to meet challenging targets, through quality assurance and self-review NA 3 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can NA 3 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 Mrs Sammy Clarke Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School Lancaster Road Overton Morecambe Lancashire LA3 3EZ 30 March 2006 Dear Children You certainly enjoy your education and seem to thrive on the caring atmosphere provided for you. Your behaviour is good and you treat others with care and respect. We feel though, that it is important that you develop a better understanding of Britain’s multicultural society. You do well in mathematics and English, especially in reading, but there is some room for improvement in science. Your lessons are thoughtfully planned but, at times, work is not hard enough for some of you and we have asked the school to make sure that it is in future. We have also asked the school to help you understand more clearly how well you are doing so that you know how you can improve. In lessons, you work hard and it is good to see that you willingly

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

help others. We noticed that when you are given practical work, most of you really enjoyed it. Our view is that more opportunities for practical work would help you to learn better. It is good to see that you happily use computers. The headteacher knows you all well. In two terms, she has made many changes that are improving the school. Your contribution to the school is immeasurable. Those in the school council will know how good it feels to get involved in running the school. We hope that this continues in future and more of you get involved in helping out. We wish you good luck for the future and hope that you continue to enjoy learning. Yours sincerely David Byrne and Sheila Mawer (Your school inspectors)

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