Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, Dunsop Bridge

Inspection Report Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School

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119689 Unique Reference Number Lancashire LEA 280635 Inspection number 13 December 2005 to 13 December 2005 Inspection dates Mrs Helen Kavanagh Reporting inspector

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

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Trough Road School address Primary Type of school Dunsop Bridge Community School category Clitheroe, Lancashire 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01200 448276 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01200 448276 Fax number 50 Number on roll Father John Chaloner Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Maureen Stansfield Headteacher 1 October 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 280635 13 December 2005 - 4 to 11 13 December 2005 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

Thorneyholme is a small, rural primary school with a strong sense of community. Many pupils travel from outside the school’s immediate locality and come from above average social and economic backgrounds. Few pupils are in receipt of free school meals. Attainment on entry to the school is broadly average. There are no minority ethnic pupils. The proportion of pupils identified as having learning difficulties and/or disabilities is in line with the national average. The number of pupils who leave and join the school is below the national average.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, 13 December 2005 to 13 December 2005

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Grade: 3

Thorneyholme Primary School provides a satisfactory standard of education with some good features. Satisfactory progress has been made since the last inspection. The school gives satisfactory value for money and is a harmonious place to come to and learn. The school has the capacity to build on the improvements that have occurred since the appointment of the present headteacher. A decline in the rate that pupils progress has been reversed so that it is now satisfactory. The inspection judgements are at some variance with the school’s self evaluation because recent improvements are not as securely embedded as the school judges. Pupils achieve well by the end of Year 2 and satisfactorily by the end of Year 6. Attainment is broadly above average by the time pupils leave the school. Children in the Foundation Stage make good progress. Throughout the school, pupils’ personal development is good. The children

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Grade: 3

are well motivated and enjoy learning. Attendance is also good. Teaching is satisfactory, with good features. The curriculum is satisfactory but there is an important weakness in the use of assessment that slows some pupils’ learning. The headteacher, ably supported by the governing body, has provided good leadership and has a clear vision for further improvement, but planned changes are not always implemented rigorously. For example, the monitoring and evaluation of teaching and learning is not clearly focused and therefore not effective enough. Parents hold the school in high regard and report that they are very happy with the quality of education and care their children receive. They would welcome the opportunity to help their children learn by knowing what they have to do to improve their work. not applicable

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What the school should do to improve further

To increase further the rate of pupils’ progress, the school should: • make better use of assessment to plan work that is carefully matched to all children’s individual needs • focus the monitoring of teaching and learning on priorities identified in the school improvement plan • ensure that planned changes are implemented consistently.

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Grade: 3

From an average starting point, children in the Foundation Stage and pupils in Years 1 and 2 achieve well. Most pupils in Years 3 to 6 achieve satisfactorily, but some higher attaining pupils underachieve, particularly in English. By the end of Year 6, pupils reach standards that are broadly above average when compared with all schools. Pupils’ achievement was satisfactory in 2005 having been unsatisfactory in the previous two years. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities achieve satisfactorily. Most pupils have challenging individual targets. However, some pupils do not achieve as 2 Inspection Report: Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, 13 December 2005 to 13 December 2005 well as they are expected to. There are plans in place that are beginning to help pupils increase the rate of progress in lessons. This includes an improvement in the use of information about pupils’ performance in order to match work more accurately to their

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Grade: 3

needs. However, this is not yet securely embedded throughout the school.

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Grade: 2

Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. From Reception through to Year 6, children enjoy coming to school. This is reflected in their good behaviour in lessons, assembly and playtimes, their enthusiasm for learning and good attendance. There are good relationships throughout and the school is justifiably proud of the harmonious atmosphere. One pupil said ‘Everyone puts themselves out for each other’. Pupils say they feel safe and secure and know that any form of harassment, which very rarely occurs, is dealt with quickly and fairly. They have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe and adopt healthy lifestyles. The school ensures that they take plenty of exercise, eat well and learn about the dangers of drugs. The Student Council provides pupils with good opportunities to have a say in the running of the school. Pupils know their views are valued and staff respect and

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Grade: 2

try to act on what they say. Pupils develop the basic skills of literacy and numeracy to a good level. They learn to work cooperatively and collaboratively as a team. They play an active part in community events. Thus, they have a good basis from which to develop further skills for later working life.

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are satisfactory but the needs of all learners are not always met. There is evidence of good teaching, for example in a Year 1/2 numeracy lesson, where work was accurately matched to meet learners’ needs and actively engaged the children. However, in some lessons work is not adjusted with the result that high ability children are insufficiently challenged and some pupils with learning difficulties are unable to learn as well as they could. Pupils have a good attitude to their work. They are industrious, well motivated, articulate and confident. The use of target setting and assessment to inform planning is at an early stage of development and is not used consistently throughout the school. Marking gives guidance, but this is not always followed up. Teaching in the Foundation Stage is good. Children start in the Reception class with average attainment and make good progress. Expectations are clear. Lessons have

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Grade: 3

pace and children’s individual needs are met. The varied range of activities engages the children and helps them to learn well. The pupils’ behaviour and the relationships are outstanding. 3 Inspection Report: Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, 13 December 2005 to 13 December 2005

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Grade: 3

The curriculum, including personal, social and health education provision, is satisfactory and meets statutory requirements. Provision for pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is also satisfactory. The information and communication technology (ICT) curriculum is good and basic skills in literacy and numeracy well provided for. Pupils are given opportunities to work in teams and participate in community events. They are taught global awareness through, for example, charity work for Catholic Aid for Overseas Development. Pupils benefit from and enjoy enrichment activities and clubs such as football, dance, art and poetry. Extra curricular activities are limited, because many children are taken to and from school by taxi. However, they do enjoy a variety of educational visits and the school organises a residential visit every alternate year to Whitehough. Within the Healthy Schools programme children learn to share their concerns, look

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Grade: 3

after themselves and eat healthily. The curriculum in the Reception class meets requirements. Children have opportunities to participate in adult led activities and to initiate their own work and play. This programme is well balanced; however, opportunities for outdoor play are limited.

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Grade: 2

The school takes good care of all its pupils and treats them with respect. Child protection procedures are well established and the headteacher ensures that staff are fully aware of them. Risk assessments demonstrate a strong commitment to pupils’ safety. Pupils say they feel well supported and are able to speak with a member of staff if they have any worries. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are ably supported by staff who understand their individual needs well. Procedures for monitoring their academic achievement and personal development are good. Information is used satisfactorily to help pupils towards the next steps in their learning. Children settle quickly in Reception because of the warm welcome they receive from staff and older pupils. The school prepares pupils well for the next stage in their education.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. The school has made satisfactory progress since the last inspection. Since her appointment less than two years ago, the headteacher, with good support from the governing body, has led the school well and overseen an improvement in the rate at which pupils make progress. Prior to this, the school experienced a decline in pupils’ achievement. Despite the clear vision held by the headteacher and governors for the school, plans for improving the quality of education and pupils’ achievement are still to come fully to fruition. For example, the 4 Inspection Report: Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, 13 December 2005 to 13 December 2005 headteacher plans to ensure that information from assessment is used to match teaching more closely to learners’ needs. At present, this does not happen consistently throughout the school. Similarly, the system used to track pupils’ progress provides

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Grade: 3

teachers with enough information to set children targets for mathematics and English but teaching is not yet addressing individual needs accurately. The monitoring of teaching and learning is too general and lessons are not evaluated systematically. Monitoring is not clearly focused on the priorities identified in the school improvement plan. The headteacher welcomes and acts upon the views of parents. Recent improvements are not yet securely embedded and the school’s self evaluation over estimates their impact. These recent changes bode well for further improvements in the quality of education. The school has a satisfactory capacity to improve. 5 Inspection Report: Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, 13 December 2005 to 13 December 2005 .

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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: Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, 13 December 2005 to 13 December 2005

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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 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 2 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 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 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 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 Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School Dunsop Bridge Trough Road Clitheroe Lancashire BB7 3BG 14 December 2005 Dear Children Thank you very much for making me feel so welcome when I visited your school recently. I enjoyed finding out about the work you do and a special thanks to those who talked with me about the school. These are the things I particularly liked about the school: it is a happy place to be everyone works hard you are polite and friendly, behave well and treat each other with respect adults are very caring and helpful staff listen well to you you know about staying safe, keeping fit and eating the right foods to make you healthy. To help make sure that everyone does their best I have asked Mrs Stansfield to make sure that: the good ideas she has for you are put into place teachers give each of you work that will help you achieve the next step in learning

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

your lessons include the improvements planned to help you make the best possible progress. Yours sincerely Helen Kavanagh Lead inspector

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