St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle

Inspection Report St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle

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119669 Unique Reference Number Lancashire LEA 280629 Inspection number 13 June 2006 to 14 June 2006 Inspection dates Mr John Heap Reporting inspector

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

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Bournes Row School address Primary Type of school Gregson Lane Voluntary aided School category Hoghton, Preston PR5 0DQ 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01254 853473 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01254 851536 Fax number 116 Number on roll Mr Paul Binks Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Frances Fordyce Headteacher 1 November 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 280629 13 June 2006 - 4 to 11 14 June 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 Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

This small school serves mainly white British pupils and a few from other minority ethnic backgrounds. The area has little social and economic deprivation and the entitlement to free school meals is small. Attainment on entry and the proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are broadly average. Very small proportions of pupils speak English as an additional language or are in the care of the local authority. The school went through a period of turbulence around 2003 that adversely affected standards, morale and number on roll. The school has Investor in People and Healthy Schools status.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle, 13 June 2006 to 14 June 2006

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Grade: 3

The inspection team agrees with the school’s accurate self-evaluation that it is satisfactory with good features. Evidence from test results, monitoring by the local authority and parents’ views show the school to be improving at an acceptable rate. The school gives satisfactory value for money. Across the school, standards are average and achievement is satisfactory. This is an improved picture since the low point in 2003. However, the school is fully aware that further improvements are still necessary, particularly in writing. Quality and standards in the Foundation Stage (Reception) are satisfactory. Parents and pupils report that behaviour has improved greatly and together with the above average attendance, the good behaviour plays a large part in the good personal development of pupils. Teaching is satisfactory and sometimes good. The improvement in teaching is the result of better procedures for assessment and the

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Grade: 3

greater use of assessment information to plan lessons. Nevertheless, targets for pupils’ learning are still too general, do not focus sufficiently on individual needs, and are not referred to when teachers mark work. The satisfactory curriculum motivates and interests the pupils, but opportunities are missed to use and develop writing skills in other subjects. Pupils and parents appreciate the good care the school provides, and its links with outside agencies are strong. Pupils with extra needs, including those looked after by the local authority, receive good support and progress well. All pupils benefit equally from what the school offers. Leadership and management are satisfactory. Recent improvements owe much to the effective leadership of the headteacher. The school’s progress amply demonstrates that it has a good capacity to improve further.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards in writing and increase opportunities throughout the curriculum to use and develop writing skills. • Improve target-setting for individual pupils. • Ensure that marking indicates how well pupils are progressing towards their personal targets and what they need to do to improve.

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Grade: 3

Achievement is satisfactory and standards are broadly average. Children arrive in Reception with the full range of abilities and make satisfactory progress. By the time they enter Year 1, standards are broadly average, with a small number of pupils exceeding the typical learning goals. Progress across Years 1 to 6 is satisfactory and standards are broadly average by the end of Years 2 and 6. The school has focused very strongly on reading and mathematics and progress is better in these areas. Targets for national test results are realistic and challenging and lately the school has met or exceeded them. However, writing standards remain lower than they should be, because: • there are too few opportunities to write in other subjects 2 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle, 13 June 2006 to 14 June 2006 • writing targets are too general, particularly for higher attaining pupils. As a result,

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Grade: 3

work is not matched accurately to the needs of the individual pupil. Standards in information and communication technology (ICT) are average. Satisfactory progress is promoted by independent work, where pupils research and design their own pieces of work. For example, in Year 6, pupils do personal topics on local places of interest. Pupils with extra needs make good progress towards their targets because of the good support they receive.

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Grade: 2

Pupils’ personal development, including spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is good. According to staff, parents and pupils, behaviour has improved recently and inspection evidence shows it to be good. Attendance levels are much higher than the norm and pupils thoroughly enjoy school. Attitudes to learning are good and pupils are proud of their achievements. Just occasionally, concentration wanes when the pace of learning slows. Pupils are developing average basic skills that prepare them satisfactorily for future schooling and the world of work. Spiritual and cultural development has improved and is now good, which is an improvement on the previous inspection. Pupils know the difference between right and wrong and recognise that there is a need to support those less fortunate than themselves, both in the local community and further afield. Pupils work together well and show courtesy and

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Grade: 2

consideration most of the time. They play safely and readily adopt healthy lifestyles. Pupils demonstrate responsibility through an effective school council, and do important tasks around the school. Reception children play a significant role in the good induction procedures for the new starters.

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Grade: 3

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. Across the school the main strengths include: • planning that is detailed and matched to group needs • high levels of useful homework that consolidate learning and give pupils the chance to work with their parents • the quality of art teaching, for example, the school makes excellent use of the outdoor resources in Years 3 and 4 to produce living sculptures • the strong support for pupils with extra learning needs that promotes their good progress. In Reception, there is a satisfactory mix of teacher-led activities and ones that the children choose. In Years 1 to 6, the good procedures for tracking pupils’ achievements provide teachers with strong guidance for setting general targets for learning. However, these targets are not sufficiently precise to enable pupils to make good progress. 3 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle, 13 June 2006 to 14 June 2006

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Grade: 3

Moreover, they are not specific enough for teachers to give clear enough guidance about each pupil’s achievements and what they need to do next. The setting of general group targets is a recent development and the school recognises the need to go further and match work more closely to individual pupils’ needs.

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Grade: 3

The satisfactory curriculum meets statutory requirements and most of the needs and interests of learners. All pupils benefit equally from what the school has to offer. In particular, pupils who have extra learning needs are well supported so that they have the same opportunities as other pupils. A strong and effective emphasis on personal development has led to improvements in spiritual and cultural development. However, there are missed opportunities for pupils to use their writing skills in all subjects across the curriculum. Too often, excessive use of prepared worksheets holds back the pace at which writing can improve. The curriculum is effectively enriched by a good range of visits, visitors and out-of-school activities. Pupils enjoy these and speak warmly of the opportunities presented, such as the effective development of their knowledge and understanding of health and safety matters.

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Grade: 2

Care, guidance and support are good overall. Pupils feel safe and secure, particularly since the new perimeter fence was erected. All staff know the pupils well and provide sensitive support when needed. Child protection procedures are robust and all staff have recently been trained. Staff are quick to support any pupil who is vulnerable, for whatever reason. The school works successfully with a range of outside agencies to help these pupils. There are good procedures for welcoming new Reception children to the school. Procedures for monitoring attendance are effective and attendance rates are high. A fairly recent and successful initiative is the introduction of procedures to track and monitor pupils’ academic achievements. The information is used well to monitor pupils’ progress and adequately sets targets for groups of pupils.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. Evidence from a wide range of sources points to a school that has gone through difficult times, characterised by changes in management, falling rolls and lowering of standards and achievement. These indicators are improving, mainly due to: good leadership by the headteacher who has brought greater rigour and focus to the school; supportive governors who bring a lot of relevant expertise to their roles; and hard-working staff who want to improve. As a result, improvement is well established, but the school’s effective self-evaluation procedures and plans show clearly that there is more to do. The process of review benefits from the regular input of parents, pupils and the local authority. For example, it is recognised 4 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle, 13 June 2006 to 14 June 2006 by parents that the headteacher has very limited time for management because she

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Grade: 3

teaches every day. Sound financial management means that there will be sufficient funds for her to have more time for management from September 2006. This gives her more opportunities to implement the priorities identified in the effective school improvement plan, such as improving the quality of teaching and learning throughout the school and improving pupils’ progress. Governors are knowledgeable about the school, but they do not have effective formal procedures to check whether the school’s aims are being fully met, or whether expenditure is targeted accurately and providing value for money. 5 Inspection Report: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle, 13 June 2006 to 14 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: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brindle, 13 June 2006 to 14 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Brindle Bournes Row Gregson Lane Hoghton Lancashire PR5 0DQ 13 June 2006 Dear Pupils I really enjoyed being in your school this week. You are very friendly and sensible young people. It was a privilege and a pleasure to work with you and the staff. I was delighted that many of you wished to talk with me and impressed by the courtesy and help you provided. What I really liked about your school The good progress made by children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The way that you enjoy the school and the work that you are given. Your good and improving behaviour. The way you play safely and know how to keep fit and healthy. The important contribution that you make to the running of the school and the contribution that you make through donations to charity. The good art teaching and the living sculptures made by Year 3/4 class.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

The strong support that your parents give to the school. The good leadership of Mrs Fordyce. I am asking your teachers to help you to improve the quality of your writing. At present, your work is sometimes good and sometimes not so good. You can help your teachers by always doing your best writing and trying to improve on your previous work. You can also make sure that you meet targets set for you and follow all advice and guidance that your teachers give to you. If you do not understand what they are asking you to do make sure that you ask. I wish you well and good luck for the future. Yours sincerely

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