Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Inspection Report Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

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119688 Unique Reference Number Lancashire LEA 280634 Inspection number 12 January 2006 to 12 January 2006 Inspection dates Mrs Carole Cressey Reporting inspector

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

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Gisburn Road School address Primary Type of school Bolton-by-Bowland Voluntary aided School category Clitheroe, Lancashire 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01200 447632 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01200 447632 Fax number 41 Number on roll Rev Canon David Mewis Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Kathryn Morris Headteacher 1 May 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 280634 12 January 2006 - 4 to 11 12 January 2006 Inspection Report: Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, 12 January 2006 to 12 January 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

This very small primary school is located in the rural village of Bolton by Bowland near Clitheroe. Since the previous inspection the population of the village has changed from being a mainly farming community to a mixture of farming and professional families. At the time of the inspection the headteacher had been in post just over a year. The Victorian building has recently been refurbished to provide a light and spacious modern school. Almost all the pupils are white British and most come from socially advantaged backgrounds. Although the take up of free school meals is much lower than average, there are small pockets of social and emotional disadvantage. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities is well below average.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, 12 January 2006 to 12 January

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Grade: 2

Bolton by Bowland is a good school with some outstanding features and it gives good value for money. This inspection judgement matches the school’s view of itself. The Christian ethos of the school is central to its success as a caring school that has high aspirations for all its pupils. Pupils are very proud of their school and parents are rightly confident that their children are nurtured within the context of the Christian faith. Personal development is good with some outstanding features. Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary and they have very mature attitudes. Pupils’ knowledge of their own faith and culture is exceptionally good, but they have fewer opportunities to learn at first hand about understanding of the different cultures found in their neighbouring towns and cities. The quality of the teaching, learning and curriculum is good at every stage. As a result, the pupils achieve well and, by the time they leave the school, they attain

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Grade: 2

standards in English and mathematics which are well above those found nationally. However, standards in writing in Years 1 and 2 are not quite as strong as those in other subjects. The school is well led and managed. A new assessment and recording system has been implemented, but it is not used with sufficient precision to set targets for individual pupils. This is a school that is determined to provide its pupils with the best education it can. It is not limited by its small size but sees this as being beneficial to its pupils and to the life of the village and community it serves. The school is clearly able to raise its high standards even further. not applicable

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What the school should do to improve further

• Use assessment information to set precise, individual targets to help pupils reach the higher levels. • Provide more opportunities for pupils in Years 1 and 2 to use their writing skills. • Help pupils to learn more about the different cultures in British society.

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Grade: 2

The pupils consistently achieve well and reach higher than expected standards. This is a result of consistently good teaching in all year groups. The attainment of children when they first start school is typical for their age. They make good progress and in the Foundation Stage almost all reach the standard expected of them by the time they enter Year 1. In national tests, standards overall at the end of Year 2 are consistently high. However, although standards in writing are above those seen nationally, higher attaining pupils could do even better by having more opportunities to use their writing skills in more lessons. In national tests, Year 6 pupils almost always achieve standards which are above the national average. The school is not complacent about its high standards and is continually striving to improve them even further. Writing and mathematics have been targeted as areas where pupils could achieve even better

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Grade: 2

results. As a result, standards in both subjects are improving even further. Pupils with 2 Inspection Report: Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, 12 January 2006 to 12 January emotional or learning difficulties and those with disabilities achieve very well and most reach the expected standard for their age. Looked after children achieve well and frequently reach the higher levels in all subjects.

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Grade: 2

Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral and social development is very good. Cultural development is satisfactory. Although attendance is above average, the school is working hard to persuade parents not to take their children out of school for family holidays. The school sees this as part of its strategy to raising standards even further. Pupils are very confident and mature learners who thoroughly enjoy learning. They show outstanding care and a very mature sensitivity to the needs of others both in their own school and in other parts of the world. One boy described how the teacher ‘soothed’ a fellow classmate who was experiencing emotional problems. Behaviour is exceptionally good. In lessons, pupils are attentive listeners and eager participators. They are keen to be successful learners. Pupils feel safe and well cared for. They are adamant that there is no bullying in the school but are equally certain

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Grade: 2

that if it ever did occur the teachers would deal with it. Pupils are extremely proud of their School Council and its success in managing a budget to improve the playground. Healthy snacks and lunches and the many opportunities to take part in sport and exercise in lessons and at break times ensure that pupils are developing a healthy lifestyle. Pupils have a very strong understanding of their own heritage and Christian faith and culture. However, they do not have enough opportunities to learn at first hand about the different faiths and cultures in British society.

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are consistently good throughout the school. There is a good range of practical tasks to engage children in the Foundation Stage. A significant strength of the teaching is the way each lesson is thoughtfully planned to meet the different ages and abilities of the pupils. This is no easy task when there are three or four year groups in one class. However, a good range of practical high quality resources and the excellent use of additional part-time teachers and assistants create highly effective conditions for successful learning. Teachers use the interactive whiteboard well to enable pupils to take an active part in lessons and to demonstrate new skills. In one highly successful lesson, pupils quickly learned how to multiply 3-digit numbers as they watched the teacher show them where they were going wrong. The lesson was fast moving and challenging and, by the end of it, all pupils were much more secure

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Grade: 2

in their learning. The teachers’ knowledge of how well the pupils are doing in their work is good. They use this information well to plan work to meet individual needs and set learning outcomes for lessons. However, individual targets are often too general 3 Inspection Report: Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, 12 January 2006 to 12 January and pupils are not as clear as they could be on how to improve further to reach the next stage in their learning.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good and is underpinned by the school’s Christian faith and values. It is imaginatively planned to meet the needs of pupils in a very small school and ensure they make good progress in their learning. The school offers French to all its pupils adding a breadth to their learning which the pupils and their parents value. There is a very strong emphasis on developing pupils’ literacy, numeracy and information technology skills. However, the pupils in Years 1 and 2, particularly the high attainers, have too few opportunities to develop their writing skills. Pupils receive a good grounding in personal health and safety and develop a caring attitude to God’s creation. Visits and after school clubs are carefully planned to ensure that pupils have all the benefits that larger more urban schools have.

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Grade: 2

Pupils achieve well in their personal and academic development because of the excellent care the school provides for them. The procedures for child protection are highly effective. Vulnerable children receive a particularly high level of care and support and as a result become confident and successful learners. Pupils feel very safe in the school and know their teachers value their opinions and will listen to any fears and worries they may experience from time to time. Teachers track each pupil’s academic progress and are beginning to set targets to help pupils improve. However, these targets are not specific enough to provide pupils with the extra guidance they need to become even more successful.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good with some excellent features. The headteacher has very quickly earned the respect of pupils, parents and governors. The views of parents and the diocese are taken into account to help the school establish an informed opinion of its provision and performance. The evaluation of test results and of teaching and learning has enabled strengths and weaknesses to be quickly and accurately identified. The school improvement plan is an excellent working document tightly focused on what needs to be done to bring about change and to continue to raise standards. The governors bring a wide range of skills and experience to the school, as well as great commitment. They share the headteacher’s vision to do the best for all pupils and work together to bring about innovation and improvements. One example of this is the excellent way part-time staff and teaching assistants have been employed

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Grade: 2

to provide additional support to pupils and to provide the headteacher with valuable management time. The newly implemented assessment and recording arrangements 4 Inspection Report: Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, 12 January 2006 to 12 January provide teachers with a manageable overview of pupils’ attainment and progress. The school recognises that the accurate use of these is the key to improving standards even further. 5 Inspection Report: Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, 12 January 2006 to 12 January .

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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: Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, 12 January 2006 to 12 January

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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 2 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 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 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 School Council Bolton by Bowland Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Gisburn Road Bolton-by-Bowland Clitheroe Lancashire BB7 4NP 13 January 2006 Dear Children Thank you so much for being so friendly and welcoming when I visited your school a short while ago. I so enjoyed talking with you and your teachers. I could see that you enjoy your lessons and work hard in English and mathematics. I was particularly pleased to see how well you behaved and how very kind you are to other children in your school. I loved your new playground marking especially when I heard that your school council had provided some of the money and designed the layout. I think you are very lucky to go to such a good school where your headteacher and teachers work so hard to help you learn. There are only a few things I have asked your teachers to do to make the school even better.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

To tell you how you can improve your work even further. To help you learn more about the lives of other children who live in Britain. Do you remember when we talked together; you had some really good ideas on how you could learn about the lives of other children? You suggested using the Internet to e-mail letters and digital photographs and, most exciting of all, setting up your web cam so you could see and chat in ‘real’ time. Perhaps you should share these ideas with your teachers, I am sure they will be able to help you set it all up I know you will enjoy learning new things and I hope you will always enjoy school and that it will help you to become happy, sensible and successful adults. Best wishes Carole Cressey (Lead Inspector)

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