Clanfield CofE Primary School

Inspection Report Clanfield CofE Primary School

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123105 Unique Reference Number Oxfordshire LEA LEA 281403 Inspection number 16 May 2006 to 17 May 2006 Inspection dates Vanessa Ward AI Reporting inspector

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

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Main Street School address Primary Type of school Clanfield Voluntary controlled School category Bampton OX18 2SP 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01367 810257 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01367 810257 Fax number 74 Number on roll Mr David Yeates Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Miss Jane Lloyd Headteacher 31 January 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 281403 16 May 2006 - 4 to 11 17 May 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 an Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

Clanfield Church of England Primary is a small school situated in a rural village. Over a third of its pupils come from outside the village. They are of mixed social backgrounds. Almost all of the pupils are of White British heritage. The number of pupils entitled to free school meals is average. Slightly more pupils than is usual have learning difficulties and disabilities, but no pupil has a statement of special educational need. The mobility of pupils is higher than in most schools.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Clanfield CofE Primary School, 16 May 2006 to 17 May 2006

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Grade: 2

The school judges its effectiveness to be satisfactory. However, the inspection findings indicate that it is good, because the good quality of education that the school provides enables all pupils to achieve well. In addition, good leadership and management, combined with a clear, shared vision for school development, have brought about significant improvements since the previous inspection. The effective provision in the Foundation Stage gives the children a good start to their education. Progress is good throughout the school. Standards are broadly average, but fluctuate greatly because of the large variations in the number and abilities of pupils in each year group. A focus on raising standards in mathematics has been successful and the school is now working hard to improve achievement in writing. However, it provides too few opportunities for pupils to develop their writing skills across a range of subjects and for older pupils to write at length.

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good and contribute significantly to the pupils' good progress. The curriculum is broad and is considerably enriched by a wide range of additional activities. The school is currently adding a global dimension to its curriculum which is greatly increasing the pupils' understanding of the wider world. The school provides good care and support for its pupils. This enhances their personal development and helps them to feel safe, behave well and show positive attitudes to learning. Parents greatly appreciate all that the school does. Links with external agencies are used well to benefit the pupils' development. Leadership and management by the headteacher are good and she is ably supported by the governors and staff. Evidence from recent successful initiatives indicates that the school is well placed to improve further. The school gives good value for money.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Improve the opportunities for pupils to develop their writing skills across a range of subjects. • Provide more opportunities for older pupils to write at length.

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Grade: 2

Pupils' achievement is good because the teachers focus well on their individual needs. The number of children admitted to the Foundation Stage each year varies greatly, as do their skills. Whatever their starting points, however, the children make good progress and this continues through Years 1 to 6. This applies to all groups of pupils, including those who join the school after the Reception year. Year groups are small and hence the proportions of higher attaining pupils and those with learning difficulties can vary widely from year to year. This causes standards in reading, writing, mathematics and science to fluctuate considerably. Overall, standards are broadly average. The staff 2 Inspection Report: Clanfield CofE Primary School, 16 May 2006 to 17 May 2006 set suitably challenging targets and these are achieved. The involvement of pupils and their parents in understanding and working towards pupils' writing targets is bringing

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Grade: 2

about improvement. The school's work to raise standards in mathematics has been successful. Standards in information and communication technology (ICT) have also improved since the previous inspection, and these are now satisfactory. The careful tracking of pupils' progress ensures that any underachievement is quickly identified and corrected. Following the identification of some underachievement in writing, for example, several remedial strategies have been introduced and these are now improving achievement in lessons. These measures have yet to make an impact on standards in the long-term.

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Grade: 2

The personal development of the pupils is good, and they show positive attitudes to learning and behave well. They enjoy being in school and their attendance is good. One pupil said 'There are lots of interesting things to learn every day'. Although pupils are enthusiastic about learning, they do not consistently take pride in the presentation of their work, which is sometimes untidy. Pupils take part readily in the many sports activities that the school provides, speaking enthusiastically about skipping and power walking. They understand about healthy eating and say that they feel safe in school and know that the staff will listen and care for them if they are upset. They take on responsibility conscientiously, such as befriending lonely pupils at playtime. Pupils represent their classes effectively as members of the school council or health committee. Their use of basic skills and participation in events such as the Monday Lunch Club

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Grade: 2

with local residents all help prepare pupils for life beyond school. The pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. They care for and value each other. They have a strong sense of right and wrong and appreciate the opportunities they are given to discuss issues in class. Their social skills develop well through team work. The wide range of opportunities provided through the school's involvement in a 'Global School Project' mean that the pupils develop a good understanding of other cultures and traditions.

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good and contribute to the pupils' good achievement. The teachers plan thoroughly, taking into account the pupils' differing needs, and thereby provide suitable challenge for different groups of pupils, including those with learning difficulties. The interesting tasks that the teachers provide motivate the pupils and make them want to learn. For example, a task to multiply two sets of tens generated enthusiasm among pupils who were keen to help each other and work out why some 3 Inspection Report: Clanfield CofE Primary School, 16 May 2006 to 17 May 2006 of them had different answers. Occasionally, there is some loss of pace in lessons and this slows the pupils' learning. Discussion in pairs to decide, for example, what features of writing are needed to describe a story setting, successfully promote pupils' speaking and listening skills. Such activities also enhance their social development and self-confidence. Teaching

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Grade: 2

assistants play a valuable role in working with small groups of pupils. The Foundation Stage provides a good balance between teacher-directed activities and opportunities for children to explore and make choices. Children learn well because their progress is monitored closely and the work can therefore be carefully planned to build on what they already know. Throughout the school, teachers use assessment information effectively to help them keep track of how each pupil is doing.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good. It is well balanced, interesting and is enriched through a good range of educational visits, clubs and visitors to the school. Pupils speak enthusiastically of making clay masks with a visitor from Uganda, and of a visit to a landfill site. Keeping pupils healthy and safe is given high priority. The stimulating curriculum in the Foundation Stage encourages the children to enjoy learning. Whilst the curriculum focuses well on the basic skills of literacy, numeracy and ICT, it does not provide sufficient opportunities for pupils to develop their writing skills in a range of subjects other than English, or for the older pupils to write at length. Pupils of all abilities are enabled to enjoy a full curriculum. There is a strong focus on including a global perspective within pupils' learning and on raising their awareness of environmental issues, such as the need for recycling. Pupils speak knowledgeably

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Grade: 2

The care, guidance and support that the school provides are good and establish an environment in which pupils feel valued and want to learn. Parents affirm this overwhelmingly, saying that 'all the teachers know each child and take an interest in them'. All aspects of health and safety are successfully promoted and monitored. Child protection procedures are well established and all the staff are aware of their responsibilities. Systems for behaviour management are effective. The support for pupils with learning difficulties is good and this raises their confidence as learners. Liaison with outside agencies is very successful in supporting the well-being and development of all of the pupils. The school monitors academic development well and is working effectively to increase the pupils' involvement in understanding their own progress. It is currently introducing a formal method of recording pupils' progress in

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Grade: 2

personal development. Support for pupils when they join the school, and when they prepare to move on to the next stage, is very comprehensive. 4 Inspection Report: Clanfield CofE Primary School, 16 May 2006 to 17 May 2006

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Grade: 2

The leadership and management provided by the headteacher, staff and governors are good and contribute significantly to the good progress made by the children. The headteacher has a comprehensive understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. She has successfully created a strong sense of teamwork among the staff and governors. The school's self-evaluation findings, although modest in terms of judging overall effectiveness, are well founded and accurate, and staff and governors play important roles in the process. The views of parents and pupils are sought and acted upon. When weaknesses are identified, remedial action is taken to raise standards. A recent successful initiative has raised standards in mathematics. The school is now rightly focusing on improving pupils' writing. Governors fulfil their statutory responsibilities and are well informed about the school's priorities. They are very involved in the long-term planning of school improvement.

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Grade: 2

However, they acknowledge that a previous system of governors' monitoring visits to the school has lapsed and should be reintroduced, now that membership of the governing body is at full strength. Subject leaders play an important part in influencing developments in their subjects. However, they do not have sufficient opportunities to observe their subjects being taught in other classes. The school has plans to redress this. The professional development of staff is given high priority and is used well to improve teachers' individual skills and to support school initiatives. The school has successfully tackled the issues raised at the previous inspection and has good capacity to continue its improvement. 5 Inspection Report: Clanfield CofE Primary School, 16 May 2006 to 17 May 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: Clanfield CofE Primary School, 16 May 2006 to 17 May 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 3 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 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 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

Pupils I enjoyed visiting your school and I would like to thank you for making me feel so welcome and for talking to me about Clanfield. All of the grown ups look after you and care for you very well and this helps you to enjoy your time in school. Your parents and carers like your school and are pleased that you are happy there. You told me that you enjoy being in your school. There are lots of interesting things to do and you especially like the clubs and visits to interesting places. You say that you feel safe in school and know that the grown ups will always help you if you are upset or worried. You work hard and this helps you to make good progress. Teachers give you targets on the front of your literacy books and these help you to understand how to improve your writing. To help your writing to improve further, I have asked the teachers to give you more opportunities to write in subjects such as history and geography. For those of you in Years 5 and 6, I have asked the

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

teachers to give you time to produce some longer pieces of writing. Some of you need to make your work neater.Your behaviour is good and you carry out your jobs around school very well, such as looking after each other at break times and managing the play equipment. The work you do with your Healthy Schools and Eco Committee really helps you to understand how to care for yourselves, your school and the environment. You know how to keep healthy and many of you bring healthy food at lunchtime and join in with skipping before school each day. I hope you will carry on enjoying your school, working hard and helping your teachers as much as you can. Yours sincerely Mrs Vanessa Ward Inspector

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