Lighthorne Heath Primary School

Inspection Report Lighthorne Heath Primary School

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125530 Unique Reference Number Warwickshire LEA 281953 Inspection number 2 March 2006 to 2 March 2006 Inspection dates Eileen Chadwick AI Reporting inspector

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

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Stratford Road School address Primary Type of school Leamington Spa Community School category Warwickshire CV33 9TW 3 to 11 Age range of pupils 01926 640326 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01926 641818 Fax number 78 Number on roll Mr Keith Blackburn Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Dorinda Hunt Headteacher 1 March 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 281953 2 March 2006 - 3 to 11 2 March 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 two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This small primary school serves a disadvantaged area of Lighthorne Heath and also attracts pupils from elsewhere. An above average proportion of pupils are eligible for free school meals. The proportion with learning difficulties is well above average whilst the proportion with statements of special educational need is average. A significant minority of pupils have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The movement of pupils in and out of school other than at the usual times is above average.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Lighthorne Heath Primary School, 2 March 2006 to 2 March 2006

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Grade: 3

This is a satisfactory and improving school with a number of good features. The school agrees with inspectors’ judgements. Parents are pleased with the care and education provided. Good progress in the Nursery and Reception years prepares pupils well for entering Year 1. Pupils’ progress is satisfactory in the rest of the school. However, the more capable pupils’ progress is inconsistent in English and mathematics. Few reach the higher levels of attainment because the work provided for them is not always sufficiently challenging. Pupils with learning difficulties make satisfactory progress. The considerable proportion with emotional and behavioural difficulties, who are often later entrants to the school, are well supported. Pupils’ personal development and behaviour are good. The school takes good care of its pupils. It is a safe and friendly place where pupils enjoy learning. The quality of teaching and learning are satisfactory.

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Grade: 3

Recent improvements in the school’s systems for checking pupils’ progress have led to improvements in the way reading and writing are taught in Years 1 and 2. This is already leading to signs of better progress in reading. The curriculum is satisfactory with good opportunities for extra-curricular activities. Leadership and management are satisfactory. The headteacher provides strong pastoral leadership and a sound focus on raising standards. However, subject leaders in English and mathematics do not have enough opportunities to improve pupils’ learning. Progress since the last inspection has been satisfactory. Given recent improvements, the school has the necessary capacity to improve further. It gives satisfactory value for money.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise the proportion of pupils reaching higher levels by consistently providing the more capable pupils with sufficiently challenging work. • Develop English and mathematics subject co-ordinators’ roles so they are more involved in improving pupils’ learning.

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Grade: 3

Achievement is satisfactory overall. Children’s attainment on entry to the Nursery is well below the level expected for their age. Their progress is good throughout the Nursery and Reception years and most reach their learning goals by the end of Reception. Pupils’ progress is generally satisfactory in Years 1 and 2, although standards by the end of Year 2 are below average in reading, writing and mathematics. The below average standards result largely from the movement of pupils in and out of the school, which impacts significantly on small year groups. However, the more capable pupils are not pushed on to reach the higher levels for their age and do not do as well as they should. The school has recently taken action to rectify this situation. 2 Inspection Report: Lighthorne Heath Primary School, 2 March 2006 to 2 March 2006 Although pupils’ results in the national tests taken at the end of Year 6 in 2005 were

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Grade: 3

below the national average, they had made satisfactory progress in relation to their starting points. As in Year 2, standards have been affected by a high proportion of pupils entering the school other than at the usual time. The school does well in raising standards in literacy for lower attaining pupils in Years 3 to 6, although this is only satisfactory in mathematics. The proportions reaching the higher levels in mathematics are too low.

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Grade: 2

Pupils’ personal development and well-being are good overall. Children in the Nursery and Reception years make very good progress in their personal, social and emotional development. Their progress in adjusting to school is excellent in the Nursery. Pupils enjoy school and get along well with each other. They feel safe and say there is ‘always someone to turn to’ if they have a problem. Behaviour is good and, over time, many pupils show much improvement in their attitude towards learning and to each other. Significant numbers join the school after interrupted spells in other schools where they have been unable to settle and sometimes been excluded. Attendance is an improving picture for the whole school and is now satisfactory. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good as a result of the school’s effective work in these areas, including the way it promotes racial harmony. Pupils develop good awareness of eating healthily and the need to keep fit. They very

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Grade: 2

much appreciate being part of a school environment where all can flourish emotionally. Pupils make sound progress in developing teamwork skills for their future economic well-being and learn to make joint decisions through subjects such as design and technology.

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Grade: 3

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory overall and is good in the Nursery and Reception years. Teachers manage pupils’ behaviour well, which creates a climate supportive of learning in lessons. In the Nursery and Reception class, the teacher uses relevant practical methods and matches work to children’s prior attainment very well. Teaching assistants are successfully managed so they play a large part in providing the right match of work and play activities to children’s learning needs. In Years 1 to 6, teachers often use their good subject knowledge to help pupils of average ability to learn well. However, in the mixed age classes, where the ability range is particularly wide, the oldest more capable pupils are not always challenged during whole class sessions. There are also times when the work is not closely enough matched to the needs of the youngest lower attaining pupils, who sometimes find it difficult.

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Grade: 3

3 Inspection Report: Lighthorne Heath Primary School, 2 March 2006 to 2 March 2006 Teaching assistants support pupils’ learning well during group work. Assessment systems are thorough whilst their use for matching work is generally satisfactory.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum is satisfactory with several strengths. In the Nursery and Reception years, it is well planned and fully meets the needs of all children. In Years 1 to 6, the curriculum covers all the required subjects and includes many practical activities that motivate pupils. There is good emphasis on enabling pupils to develop their creativity through art and design, design and technology and music. Provision for literacy and numeracy is satisfactory in Years 1 to 6. Systems for teaching literacy in Years 1 and 2 have been much improved this year. This is leading to signs of better progress for Year1 and 2 pupils in learning to read. A good range of visits and visitors enrich the curriculum. After school and lunchtime clubs enhance pupils’ personal development well and contribute to their enjoyment of school. Activities additional to lessons include work for many pupils in the Children’s University.

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Grade: 2

Pupils are well cared for and are provided with good guidance and support. The school regularly carries out effective health and safety checks and risks are assessed to promote good safety standards. Procedures and arrangements to support more vulnerable children, including those with medical or health needs, are sensible and thorough. Some pupils have a named key worker, which is a good system enabling staff to track and support many personal needs. Strong links with many outside agencies also support a wide range of pupils’ needs effectively. Arrangements for child protection are good. This is a school where every child matters regardless of their home background and starting point and where good standards of care and support are strongly promoted by the headteacher and all staff. A weakness, however, is that the school does not involve pupils fully in assessing how they might improve their progress. The school recognises that this is an aspect of care

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. The school knows its strengths and areas for development. Self-evaluation has been sharpened by recent improvement in systems for measuring pupils’ academic progress and for evaluating the impact of the school’s actions on raising achievement. The headteacher provides strong pastoral leadership and has created a school where teachers can teach and pupils can learn. She has the support of parents, many of whom say the school has improved considerably in recent 4 Inspection Report: Lighthorne Heath Primary School, 2 March 2006 to 2 March 2006 years, such as in the standards of behaviour. Through necessity, there has been a strong and successful focus on improving behaviour. The school is intent on raising pupils’ attainment. However, targets are modest for Year 6 pupils for Level 4 and satisfactory at Level 5. Targets are not consistently demanding for higher attaining pupils in other years. Subject leaders are knowledgeable,

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Grade: 3

although the English and mathematics’ leaders do not have enough opportunities to evaluate the quality of teaching and learning in their subjects in all classes. Increased involvement of these staff is essential to drive up the standards. The governors are satisfactory in their roles. They provide good support, although sometimes they do not sufficiently challenge the school’s view of itself. Given recent progress with improvement, the school has the capacity to improve further. It provides satisfactory value for money. 5 Inspection Report: Lighthorne Heath Primary School, 2 March 2006 to 2 March 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: Lighthorne Heath Primary School, 2 March 2006 to 2 March 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 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 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 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 3 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

Lighthorne Heath Primary School Stratford Road Lighthorne Heath Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV33 9TW 3 March 2006 Dear Pupils Thank you so much for welcoming us into your school. We enjoyed our time with you and would now like to tell you what we found out about your school. • The school is a happy place because you are so friendly and you behave well. • You are a credit to your school in the way you are kind and helpful to each other and adults. • You welcome new children to the school and make sure they quickly feel at home. • You make particularly good progress in the Nursery and Reception. • Your art and design and technology work shows you have good ideas and take great care to make your work neat and attractive. • You have good opportunities to enjoy exciting school clubs. We have suggested three things that would help your school do even better: • Make sure your work is never too easy because some of you are capable of doing harder work.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

• Involve the teachers who are in charge of English and mathematics in checking up more on whether enough is done to help you. We hope you continue to enjoy your school. We know you will help your teachers to make Lighthorne Heath an even better school than it already is. With all our best wishes, Yours sincerely Eileen Chadwick Lead Inspector

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