St Charles' RC School

Inspection Report St Charles' Roman Catholic School

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119650 Unique Reference Number Lancashire LEA 280625 Inspection number 31 January 2006 to 1 February 2006 Inspection dates Mr Mark Williams Reporting inspector

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

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Knowles Street School address Primary Type of school Rishton Voluntary aided School category Blackburn, Lancashire 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01254 886110 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01254 882784 Fax number 191 Number on roll Father Martin Dowd Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Dorothy Casey Headteacher 1 October 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 280625 31 January 2006 - 4 to 11 1 February 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 one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors and one additional inspector.

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Description of the school

St Charles’ is a Catholic primary school in Rishton, an industrial town on the outskirts of Blackburn. There are 191 pupils on roll. While the percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals is below the national average the percentage with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is above. Pupils enter school with attainment broadly in line with national expectations but this varies year on year.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Charles' Roman Catholic School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 2006

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Grade: 2

This is a good school providing its pupils with a good standard of education. It provides good value for money. Inspectors agree with the school’s own self-evaluation of its effectiveness and support the views of the overwhelming majority of parents and children. It is outstanding in promoting the personal development and well-being of its pupils. The school has successfully ensured its mission statement ‘Bring forth Christ’ is evident in all aspects of its life and, as a result, ensures that every child matters. Pupils make good progress overall and, by the time they leave school at the age of 11, achieve standards that are above the national average in English and science. Standards in mathematics are in line with national averages. This is an improvement from the previous inspection. The Foundation Stage (Reception class) provides good quality provision and pupils make good progress. Pupils’ personal development and well-being are outstanding. Pupils’ attitudes towards

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Grade: 2

learning, as shown in their enjoyment of lessons and behaviour, are excellent. Teaching is good and enables pupils to learn well. The school encourages pupils to work together and has high expectations to what the children can achieve. Marking and target setting, however, while good in some classes are not consistent across the school. The curriculum and other activities provided are good as are the care, guidance and support offered to the pupils. Leadership and management are good, with very strong and effective leadership provided by the headteacher. The school is aware of its strengths and areas for development, although its planning for improvement is not always sharply focused. Nonetheless, the school has good capacity to build upon its achievements and improve even further.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Ensure a consistent approach to marking and target setting across the school. • Ensure planning for further improvement makes clear the steps to be taken and the success to be expected.

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Grade: 2

Achievement and standards are good overall and have improved since the previous inspection. This is because of the good teaching that builds upon previous learning and develops outstanding pupil attitudes. Pupils enter the school with levels of attainment that are broadly in line with national expectations. They make good progress in gaining knowledge, skills and understanding throughout the school. 2 Inspection Report: St Charles' Roman Catholic School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 2006 At the age of 11, pupils reach standards in English and science that exceed national averages. The number of pupils achieving the higher levels in the national tests in these subjects is high. The improvement in the results in science since the last inspection is very good. The number of pupils gaining higher levels in mathematics has also improved and is now broadly in line with national figures. The school meets the challenging targets it sets itself.

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Grade: 2

Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make good progress from their starting points and are challenged and supported well by the teaching assistants.

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Grade: 1

Provision in this area is outstanding. Inspectors believe the school was too modest in celebrating its success in this area. Pupils’ spiritual, moral and social development are excellent and are based on everybody’s commitment to the strong Christian ethos and sense of community. Pupils’ cultural development is good and is enhanced by learning about different faiths and cultures to their own. Pupils display outstanding attitudes towards their work. Very good relationships exist and behaviour is excellent. Pupils are very polite and take pride in their school. They feel safe and report that they enjoy lessons very much. They are aware of health and safety issues. For example, in a physical education lesson, pupils were observed successfully and sensibly using a range of high and low level apparatus to develop skills in balancing. At the lesson’s conclusion, they dismantled equipment and returned it to its usual position in a highly efficient manner. Rigorous procedures exist to ensure

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Grade: 1

that key policies such as child protection are fully implemented. Attendance is good. There are a very low number of unauthorised absences, due in the main to holidays being taken in term time. The school successfully encourages pupils to adopt healthy lifestyles, evidenced by their healthy eating and regular exercise. As a result, the Lancashire Healthy School status, which includes the standard for Emotional Health and Well-being has been achieved. Pupils’ contributions to the school and wider communities are good. For example, the school council is well established and pupils enjoy responsibilities such as acting as break and lunchtime monitors. Excellent relationships exist with the parish church and a local secondary school. Pupils raise funds for various charities. The good progress they make in their academic work means they are already developing good skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being.

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Grade: 1

3 Inspection Report: St Charles' Roman Catholic School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 2006

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good with many strengths. The result has been improved standards and progress in English, mathematics and science since the previous inspection. A major strength is the excellent planning that caters for all abilities. Teachers skilfully question pupils and extend their thinking. They have high expectations of pupils. Lessons are taught confidently and imaginatively and teachers ‘go the extra mile’ to bring learning alive. Information and communication technology (ICT) is used effectively to enhance learning. Pupils show great enthusiasm in lessons with high levels of motivation from reception to Year 6. This is because teachers encourage pupils to solve problems and plan some of their own learning. Teaching assistants play a very important part in lessons, effectively supporting those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and helping them to make good progress. Assessment is good and the thorough tracking of pupils’ progress provides teachers

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Grade: 2

with a reliable picture of how well pupils are doing. There are some good examples of target setting and marking from individual teachers. However, this approach is not consistent across the school. As a result, not all pupils fully understand their own strengths and weaknesses nor have the opportunity to assess their own work.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum, including that in the Foundation Stage, is good because it meets the needs of all learners well and supports successful teaching and learning. It is strongly enriched by visits and a good range of after school clubs that pupils greatly enjoy. There are good opportunities for pupils to learn French and play musical instruments. The school gives a large amount of time to English and mathematics and has increased the time available for science. This has resulted in improved levels of achievement in these areas. Meaningful links are being established between different subjects to make the curriculum more creative and relevant. In particular, good progress has been made in widening opportunities for writing across the curriculum. There is a very successful programme of personal, social and health education. This helps pupils to develop a very good understanding of healthy living and also to consider

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Grade: 2

important issues in their personal development. 4 Inspection Report: St Charles' Roman Catholic School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 2006

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Grade: 2

Provision is good with some outstanding features. The school’s Christian ethos and the highly positive relationships form a strong basis for effective learning and personal development. Parents and pupils hold the support received from the school in high regard. The strong partnership between parents and the school encourages pupils to do their best. Very effective systems are used to support pupils with learning and behavioural difficulties. They are identified early and support systems put quickly into place. Rigorous procedures are used for child protection and safety. This enables pupils to feel safe and secure. Good assessment accurately measures progress, but pupils’ involvement in setting and reviewing their own targets is in the early stages of development. There are, however, very good opportunities for pupils to express their views in lessons and plan some of their own learning. The school council has given pupils the chance to contribute to school improvements,

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Grade: 2

particularly in the area of playground games.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good and are driven by the very strong and effective leadership of the headteacher. All staff are fully committed to the school’s aim and ‘go the extra mile’ to ensure it is an inclusive community and a good place to be. As a result, no major area of current provision is less than good. The school’s self-evaluation procedures take into account the views of pupils, parents, staff and governors and provide accurate information regarding the school’s strengths and areas for development. Subject leaders contribute well to these processes. The committed governing body very effectively holds the school to account and assists the headteacher in reviewing performance and financial planning. However, the school’s improvement plan does not always clearly identify what steps need to be taken next and what success can be expected. As the local birth rate falls, the governors and the headteacher continue to take

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Grade: 2

decisions to enhance the school’s standing in the local community. An example of this is the recent establishment of an after school club. Parents appreciate such initiatives and hold the school in high regard. Good progress has been made in improving standards in science and mathematics since the previous inspection in October 2000. This proven track record of improvement demonstrates the school’s good capacity to improve even further. 5 Inspection Report: St Charles' Roman Catholic School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 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: St Charles' Roman Catholic School, 31 January 2006 to 1 February 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 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 1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 1 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 1 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 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 Ofsted helpline 08456 404045 The Pupils c/o Mrs D Casey Headteaher St Charles' Roman Catholic School Knowles Street Rishton Blackburn Lancashire BB1 4HT 2 February 2006 Dear Children As you know Mrs Mawer and I recently visited your school for two days. We would like to thank you for the lovely welcome you gave us. We agree with Mrs Casey, the governors, your parents and yourselves that this is a good school. We know you are proud to be its pupils and really enjoy being here. This is what we liked most: your behaviour and attitudes to school and each other are excellent all grown ups in the school care for you very much you work very hard in your lessons your teachers and all adults in school have high expectations for you your headteacher leads your school well you all live out your mission statement: ‘Bring forth Christ’ to the full. We know you are always trying to make your good school better. To help you in this we have

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

asked the teachers to ensure you are all involved in setting and reviewing your own targets for future learning. We wish you ever success for the future! Mark Williams Her Majesty’s Inspector of Schools

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