Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School

Inspection Report Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School

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119574 Unique Reference Number Lancashire LEA 280598 Inspection number 28 February 2006 to 1 March 2006 Inspection dates Mr Michael Onyon Reporting inspector

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

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The Gravel School address Primary Type of school Mere Brow Voluntary aided School category Tarleton, Preston PR4 6JX 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01772 812689 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01772 815697 Fax number 65 Number on roll Father Nicholas Davies Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Ian Cookson Headteacher 1 May 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 280598 28 February 2006 - 4 to 11 1 March 2006 Inspection Report: Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School, 28 February 2006 to 1 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 an additional inspector.

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Description of the school

This is a smaller than average sized primary school in the village of Mere Brow between Southport and Preston. Although most pupils live nearby, others travel a significant distance to attend. Entitlement to free school meals is below average. Children start school in the Reception year and most have the skills and knowledge expected for their age, although individual pupils vary widely in what they know and can do. English is the home language of almost all pupils. Throughout the school, an above average number of pupils have learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Children are accommodated in three classes, with mixed ages in each class. Currently the deputy headteacher is acting as headteacher in the absence of the headteacher through illness.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School, 28 February 2006 to 1 March 2006

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Grade: 3

This is a satisfactory school, a judgement with which the school agrees. It has the confidence of its parents and good capacity to improve further. The provision in Reception is satisfactory and nearly all pupils reach the expected standards by the time they begin Year 1. Throughout the school, teaching is satisfactory overall but varies in quality between classes and is not challenging enough for the more able pupils. Overall standards are average in Years 2 and 6 and most pupils make satisfactory progress, although some pupils are capable of reaching still higher standards, especially in writing where standards have declined by the end of Year 6 in English in the last four years. Action taken recently to remedy this is beginning to have an effect and has, for example, begun to improve standards in reading. Pupils are well cared for and taught how to live safe and healthy lives. They are well behaved, have positive attitudes

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Grade: 3

and enjoy school. The curriculum provides satisfactory opportunities for personal growth and learning. Leadership and management are satisfactory overall but, with the exception of the mathematics subject leader, the work of subject leaders has little effect on standards in their subjects. The school gives satisfactory value for money. not applicable

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What the school should do to improve further

The school should: • raise standards in English, particularly in writing • provide a consistent level of challenge for more able pupils to enable them to reach the higher levels by Year 2 and Year 6 • extend the involvement of subject leaders in the leadership and management of the school, enabling them to contribute effectively to raising standards in their subjects.

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Grade: 3

Pupils’ achievement is satisfactory overall. From average attainment when they start school, children in the Foundation Stage make satisfactory progress and recently almost all have reached the expectations for their age by the end of the Reception year. In Years 1 and 2, most pupils make satisfactory progress, and by Year 2, standards are average, as shown by the results of national tests, with the best results in mathematics and the weakest in writing. Almost all pupils achieve the expected Level 2 but few achieve the higher Level 3. Pupils continue to make satisfactory overall progress in Years 3 to 6. Results of the 2005 national tests for Year 6 were broadly average but were lower in English than in mathematics and science. Pupils’ progress in lessons, although satisfactory overall, varies considerably between year groups and subjects. In particular, the more able pupils in every year group are

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Grade: 3

2 Inspection Report: Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School, 28 February 2006 to 1 March 2006 capable of achieving higher standards than at present. The variability in progress results mainly from differences in the quality of teaching.

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Grade: 2

Pupils’ personal development and well-being are good. Their spiritual, moral and social development is well supported by the faith community and pupils make good progress. They care about each other; they are polite and know the importance of good manners of which they are proud. Their cultural development is satisfactory but not enough is done to help pupils gain a deeper understanding of the multicultural nature of British society. Pupils contribute to the life of the school through such things as fund-raising events. There is no school council though the pupils have made plans for one. In discussions with pupils they give their views on improvements they would like and they demonstrate through their mature responses that they are preparing themselves well for the next stage of education and their future economic well-being. Pupils say they enjoy coming to school and their parents agree. Attendance is good.

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Grade: 2

Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to learning are good. Pupils feel safe in school. Their sensible behaviour at playtimes means that there are few accidents. Pupils receive good advice about healthy eating and the benefits of physical exercise and the school is working towards the healthy schools’ award.

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are satisfactory overall but vary from class to class. The acting headteacher is working to improve teaching and to make it more consistent. This is beginning to make a difference. Recent changes in teaching of the Reception children are having a positive effect on their learning. The new arrangements successfully include more practical activities related to the needs of young children and are helping to increase the pace of their progress. The marking of pupils’ work has recently begun to provide better guidance for pupils, showing them how to improve. The teaching assistants support pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities effectively and make a significant contribution to their steady progress. Although teachers know their pupils well, they do not make enough use of the assessment information available to plan lessons to meet the differing needs and abilities of the pupils. As a result, pupils do not always achieve as well as they

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Grade: 3

should, especially the more able pupils, and particularly in English. However, opportunities for pupils to work with partners encourage them to become more involved in their own progress, especially in learning to be critical of their own work and that of others. In Years 5 and 6, pupils are becoming more independent, and this is increasing their rate of progress. 3 Inspection Report: Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School, 28 February 2006 to 1 March 2006

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Grade: 3

The curriculum is satisfactory. The school makes the expected provision for all subjects and provides enrichment activities suitable for primary pupils, including visits to places of interest and opportunities for sport. Following recent changes, literacy and numeracy lessons are now given high priority in the timetable, as is learning about healthy life-styles and how to keep safe. The curriculum in Reception has recently improved with an increased emphasis on children’s progress towards the nationally recommended early learning goals. Overall, the curriculum assists most pupils to achieve the standards expected for their age, encourages them to enjoy school and to develop their personal skills.

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Grade: 3

The staff take good care of pupils and the school gives due attention to welfare and safety procedures and ensuring that pupils have a good knowledge of how to look after themselves. The school is particularly successful in helping pupils to overcome any personal difficulties, so that they gain confidence in their ability to achieve. As a result, their attitudes to learning are good but the school is at an early stage of making the most of these positive attitudes to improve standards and progress. Pupils’ progress is assessed and regularly monitored; however, assessment information is not yet used effectively in planning lessons to set work at the right level. This is already recognised by the school. The introduction of the group targets for pupils in English and mathematics has increased their enthusiasm to take part in improving their own work especially when they can help to contribute to these targets.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. The headteacher is currently absent through illness and two of the three classes are partly taught by temporary teachers. The deputy headteacher has been acting as headteacher for a only a term but has already set a clear direction for the school and is introducing important developments which are well supported by the staff. As a consequence, there are signs of improvements in pupils’ progress; for example, in Year 2, which show that the school has the capacity to improve further. The teaching in Reception has also improved, as has the physical environment of the school. The work of the subject leaders in the management of their subject is inconsistent. Where it is effective, as in mathematics, it is leading to improving standards. The school’s self-evaluation includes a regular review which involves the local authority (LA) and takes account of the views of parents and pupils. The latest findings of the

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Grade: 3

review are an accurate assessment of the school’s strengths and weaknesses, and 4 Inspection Report: Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School, 28 February 2006 to 1 March 2006 clearly summarises pupils’ progress and the standards achieved. The current school improvement plan reflects these findings and is, therefore, focused on the right priorities. Governance is satisfactory, overall. The governors have a reasonable understanding of the school, fulfil their legal obligations and are supportive, but they do not always challenge the school, for example, about the declining standards in English. 5 Inspection Report: Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School, 28 February 2006 to 1 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: Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School, 28 February 2006 to 1 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 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 3 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 2 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 2 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 3 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 Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School The Gravel Mere Brow Tarleton Preston Lancashire PR4 6JX 2 March 2006 Dear Children Thank you for making me so welcome when I visited your school. You helped me to understand how much you enjoy school, and how important your friends are in helping you to learn and to have fun. I found your school a welcoming place that looks after you well, makes you feel safe, and helps you to learn about being healthy. Your behaviour is good, you look after each other, and your attendance is good. Your school is a happy place and your teachers care for you. Your headteacher has helped to make sure that the school looks good and that you are having opportunities to be successful. Most of you make steady progress, and in your tests you reach the levels expected for your age. I think you could do even better, so I have asked your school to make sure that you are

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

helped to make quicker progress, especially in English, and to make sure all of you are challenged to do your best. I send my best wishes to you all. Yours sincerely Michael Onyon Lead Inspector

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