Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School

Inspection Report Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School

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119614 Unique Reference Number Lancashire LEA 280611 Inspection number 27 June 2006 to 28 June 2006 Inspection dates Mr Geoffrey Yates Reporting inspector

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

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School Lane School address Primary Type of school Over Kellet Voluntary aided School category Carnforth, Lancashire 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01524 732097 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01524 732097 Fax number 102 Number on roll Mr Les Saunders Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Jo Williams Headteacher 1 October 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 280611 27 June 2006 - 4 to 11 28 June 2006 Inspection Report: Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School, 27 June 2006 to 28 June 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 one Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

Wilson’s Over Kellet Church of England Primary School is a small school, but numbers have grown considerably in the last few years. It is situated in the village of Over Kellet, in a rural area close to Carnforth. The surrounding district is characterised by private property and established communities. However, some pupils come from outside the area. No pupils speak English as an additional language. The percentage of pupils eligible for a free school meal is below that in most schools. The school has an average number of pupils with learning difficulties/and or disabilities. When children start school they have broadly average skills.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School, 27 June 2006 to 28 June 2006

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Grade: 2

This is a good school with many outstanding features and has the capacity to be even better. The school’s evaluation of itself is accurate but pastoral care is of a high order. The school gives a high priority to its Christian mission which is at the heart of its caring ethos. Pupils’ personal development is outstanding. The school has a very good partnership with parents and is very well regarded by them. One parent commented, ‘the headteacher is extremely competent at leading and managing the school and the school benefits greatly from such leadership.’ Links with the local community are outstanding. Pupils enjoy school and attendance rates are above average. Teaching is good and as a result pupils achieve well. Standards in English, mathematics and science are above average by the time pupils leave school. Opportunities are sometimes missed for pupils to use their writing skills in subjects other than English and pupils

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Grade: 2

are not always given written pointers for improvement when teachers mark their work. The school has rightly targeted writing standards in Years 1 and 2 for improvement and as a result, standards are starting to rise but more still needs to be done. The school’s curriculum is good and pupils make good progress. Major improvements have been made to the school grounds which now offer outstanding provision, not only for the pupils but also for the local community. The quality of education in the Foundation Stage is good and the children reach the standards expected for their ages at the end of the Reception year. The headteacher, senior staff and the governing body together provide the school with good leadership and management. The school provides good value for money and has a good capacity for further improvement.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards of writing in Years 1 and 2 by developing and building on the recent initiatives. • Provide more opportunities throughout the school for pupils to use their writing skills in all subjects. • Ensure that, when teachers mark pupils’ work they make written comments, where necessary, to show the pupils how they might improve.

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Grade: 2

Pupils make good progress and achieve well. Year groups are small and pupils’ attainment on entry varies from year-to-year but, overall, it is broadly average. Children get off to a good start in the Reception class and make good progress in learning, achieving the standards expected of them by the time they enter Year 1. Standards in Year 2 are broadly average in reading and mathematics but below average in writing. Inspection evidence shows that the initiatives put in place to raise standards in writing are having a positive impact and standards are rising. At the end of Year 6, standards in English, mathematics and science are above average. Pupils more than meet the targets set for them and they are competent in using information and communication 2 Inspection Report: Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School, 27 June 2006 to 28 June 2006 technology (ICT). Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities achieve well

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Grade: 2

because the staff are very aware of what is required to meet their needs. Pupils who are gifted and talented make good progress. Grade: 2

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Grade: 1

Pupils’ personal development is outstanding. All elements of ‘Every Child Matters’ are taken into account. Pupils really want to learn and are keen to talk to visitors about their work. They behave very well and relationships are very good. Pupils gain in confidence because their efforts and achievements are acknowledged and rewarded. There is a real sense of belonging to the Over Kellet family, despite a number of pupils living outside the local area. Pupils make a good contribution to the life of the school, the church and the wider community. For instance, the school council has brought about improvements, such as the outside play provision. One school council member remarked, ‘what we say should happen, does happen.’ Pupils learn to take responsibility by undertaking tasks. For example, both infants and juniors act as playground buddies. Pupils’ spiritual, moral and social development is good, with particular strengths in

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Grade: 1

their moral and social development. The school’s Christian ethos helps pupils develop spiritually and to show respect for others. The school has close links with the church and pupils regularly raise money for charities in support of those less fortunate than themselves. Pupils have a very good understanding of right and wrong and they have a good understanding about other faiths and cultures.

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good. Classroom assistants make a valuable contribution to the good progress that pupils make and to the quality of their learning. Planning is effective and provides well for the mixed-age classes and pupils’ different abilities. Visiting teachers, for example, for music and for supporting pupils with learning difficulties, use their expertise well. Teachers explain work clearly and maintain good order. They have good subject knowledge and high expectations of what they want the pupils to achieve. Good use is made of ICT to enliven lessons. A very good feature of high quality teaching in Years 5 and 6 is the opportunity provided for pupils to evaluate their own work and that of others. However, teachers sometimes miss opportunities in subjects such as history and science to develop pupils’ writing skills further and to provide written pointers for improvement when marking pupils’ work.

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Grade: 2

3 Inspection Report: Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School, 27 June 2006 to 28 June 2006

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Grade: 2

The school provides a good curriculum which meets the needs of all its pupils. It is enriched by well attended activities outside lessons and a good programme of educational visits and visitors. Special events such as ‘World Book Day’ and a ‘tetrahedron workshop’ are much appreciated by the pupils. There are particular curriculum strengths in ICT and the school is about to be assessed for the ICT Mark Award. Since the previous inspection, the school environment, both inside and outside, has been improved. The outside provision is outstanding and used fully by the community as well as the school. Its paved octant, Elizabethan herb garden, large stone local limestone circle and many other facilities provide a truly wonderful environment for learning and for leisure. The school has some good quality resources for its curriculum but improved resources are needed for pupils in the Reception age group. A good programme of personal, social, health and citizenship education helps

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Grade: 2

to ensure that pupils learn how to keep themselves healthy and safe, and prepares them to become economically aware and make effective contributions to the community.

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Grade: 1

Care, guidance and support for pupils are outstanding. Staff know the pupils very well and have a very high level of concern for their well-being. For example, the headteacher goes outside before and after school to listen to any parental concerns. Pupils confirm that they know any worries they have will be listened to and acted on. Parents particularly value the fact that the school is small enough for every pupil to be known and cared for. One parent of a child who has just started school remarked, ‘my child is happy and settled.’ Parents are pleased with the ’yellow page’ newsletter that provides them with a wealth of information. All the required policies and procedures to keep pupils safe are in place and the school works very closely with other agencies to ensure that pupils receive any further help they might need. Systems for assessing pupils’ attainment and tracking their progress are of a good quality and the information

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Grade: 1

is used well. Pupils who need extra help are quickly identified and supported well.

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Grade: 2

The leadership and management of the school are good. The school is very popular because the headteacher, staff and governors are determined to ensure pupils receive the best possible education. The school’s evaluation of its effectiveness is accurate. The headteacher provides outstanding leadership and knows what needs to be improved. The school has good systems for assessing pupils’ attainment, keeping track of their progress and identifying areas for development. Governors, parents and pupils are involved fully and consulted well. The school’s governing body is very ably led and governors carry out their duties well. The local vicar is a frequent visitor and a welcome 4 Inspection Report: Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School, 27 June 2006 to 28 June 2006 friend of the school. Subject leaders are taking a more proactive role in developing their areas and the literacy subject leader is highly effective. However, most subject

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Grade: 2

leaders are not yet fully effective in evaluating work in their subjects. The school has dealt well with most of the issues from the previous inspection. The small size of the school hall remains an outstanding issue but the school continues to do all it can to resolve this matter. There is good capacity for further improvement and the school provides good value for money. 5 Inspection Report: Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School, 27 June 2006 to 28 June 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: Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School, 27 June 2006 to 28 June 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 1 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 2 The behaviour of learners NA 2 The attendance of learners NA 1 How well learners enjoy their education NA 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices NA 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles NA 1 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 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 The Pupils Over Kellet Wilson's Endowed Church of England Primary School School Lane Over Kellet Carnforth Lancashire LA6 1BN 27 June 2006 Dear Pupils I thoroughly enjoyed visiting your good school. It has many outstanding features and it is no wonder that more and more parents want their children to attend. I was delighted that many of you wished to talk with me and was impressed by the courtesy and help you provided. The things I really liked about your school were: the good progress that you make in learning, by the time you leave, in English, mathematics, science and ICT because of the good teaching you receive the way Mrs Williams leads and manages the school so outstandingly well your very good behaviour and attitude to work, as well as the way you really get on with each other and with adults, and the outstanding care you receive

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

the outstanding resources you have in the school grounds. To make your school even better, we have asked your teachers: to give you more opportunities to use your writing skills in subjects such as geography and history to be more consistent in giving you written comments on how you might improve your work when they mark your books to carry on in their efforts to improve the standard of writing in Years 1 and 2. I wish you good fortune for the future. Yours sincerely Geoffrey Yates

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