Maryland Primary School

Inspection Report Maryland Primary School

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102730 Unique Reference Number Newham Local Authority 286474 Inspection number 16 °17 November 2006 Inspection dates Vanessa Ward Reporting inspector

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

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Gurney Road School address Primary Type of school London Community School category E15 1SL 3 °11 Age range of pupils 020 8534 8135 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 020 8534 4426 Fax number 498 Number on roll (school) Mr Graham Plant Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Lorna Jackson Headteacher 11 February 2002 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 286474 16 °17 November 2006 3°11 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 three Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

Maryland Primary School is considerably larger than average. Pupils come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, the largest group being of Black African heritage. Other groups include pupils with White British, Black Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds. The percentage of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well above average. More pupils than usual are at the early stages of learning to speak English. Pupils come from a very wide range of social backgrounds. Substantially more pupils than average are entitled to free school meals. The percentage of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is above average. More pupils than usual join the school between Years 3 and 6. There has been a high turnover of staff in the past two years, plus several periods of long-term staff absence.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Maryland Primary School, 16 °17 November 2006

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Grade: 2

Maryland Primary School is a good school. It provides a good quality of education and has several outstanding features. High levels of care for the pupils and a focus on the individual are central to all that the school does. These qualities contribute to the pupils' outstanding personal development and well-being. Pupils say they that 'the teachers make you feel special'. Parents appreciate all that the school provides, commenting that 'We are so happy to have found this school... our children enjoy school and are doing well'. The headteacher and senior leadership team are well supported by the other staff and the governors. Together they work with tireless determination to improve learning for the pupils. The headteacher's very clear understanding of the changes needed to bring about improvement and raise standards is a key factor in the school's on-going improvement. An initiative to improve writing is proving successful and standards are

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Grade: 2

beginning to rise, but more remains to be done. The school's process for evaluating its strengths and weaknesses, and in planning for school improvement is comprehensive. It successfully involves the staff and governors and seeks and values the views of parents and pupils. Teaching and learning are good and contribute to the pupils' good achievement. However, there are some inconsistencies in the quality of teaching from class to class. These include differences in teachers' expectations of how much pupils can achieve in a lesson, and in their approaches to stimulate interest and promote good learning. Inevitably, these inconsistencies result in some uneven progress. Children are given a good start in the Foundation Stage. The school builds well on this, and pupils' achievement is good. Although there have been some fluctuations, there has been a trend of improvement over the past five years. By Year 6, standards

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Grade: 2

in English, mathematics and science are currently average. The school makes excellent links with other agencies to promote the pupils' academic development and their well-being. Through participation in the wide range of sporting activities provided, and daily opportunities to eat healthily, the pupils gain excellent knowledge about healthy lifestyles. Their very comprehensive understanding of how to keep safe is constantly being increased, through both the school's curriculum and the very effective procedures for managing behaviour. Pupils thoroughly enjoy taking on extra responsibilities in school and welcome opportunities to help others, both in class and at playtimes. They speak very enthusiastically about community events, such as a Caribbean carnival and a children's parliament.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards in English throughout the school, with a focus on developing pupils' writing. • Increase the proportion of good and better teaching, focusing on establishing greater consistency in teaching methods and in expectations of what pupils can achieve. 2 Inspection Report: Maryland Primary School, 16 °17 November 2006

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Grade: 2

Achievement is good and standards are average. The skills of the children when they enter the Nursery are less well developed than is typical of most three-year-olds. However, in the last couple of years, children have entered the school with better developed skills and, by the end of the Reception year, most have reached the expected goals in all areas of learning. Although an initiative to improve writing has considerably improved standards in English at Year 2 and for more able pupils at Year 6, the school recognises the need to continue with this work. The school's tracking procedures have recently been revised and are being used very effectively to monitor pupils' progress, and to provide additional support where needed. This is currently helping to accelerate the progress of those pupils who fall behind their expected targets. Analysis of data indicates that all groups of pupils make good progress, including those who join the

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Grade: 2

school during Years 3 to 6, and those with learning difficulties and disabilities. Pupils learning English as an additional language sometimes make very good progress.

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Grade: 1

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. They care for and value each other and develop a strong sense of right and wrong. Their social skills develop excellently through paired and team work. Pupils are generous of spirit, supporting many local and national charities, and engaging in several recycling projects, including the export of surplus educational resources to a school in Gambia. They have very good understanding of western culture, and of the wide variety of cultures represented in the school. Pupils thoroughly enjoy school and their attendance is above average. Most pupils behave very well. They take on responsibility very conscientiously, those in Years 5 and 6 assuming significant whole-school responsibilities. The school council successfully promotes pupils' views, and has been influential in changing lunchtime menus and in selecting playground equipment. However, the council does not have a regular budget,

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Grade: 1

and members have no experience of agenda preparation or of circulating minutes. Pupils feel very safe in school and are confident that any bullying will be quickly resolved. Pupils enjoy a healthy diet in school, and take part very enthusiastically in the many opportunities for sport and exercise. The school's emphasis on computer and social skills and pupils' improving literacy and numeracy skills, prepare them well for life beyond school. 3 Inspection Report: Maryland Primary School, 16 °17 November 2006

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Grade: 2

Very good relationships boost pupils' confidence and promote self-esteem and successful learning. Discussion in pairs, for example, to re-tell the story of Romeo and Juliet, successfully encouraged discussion and enhanced social development. This style of teaching makes pupils into confident learners and contributes to their good progress. Support staff work well with small groups of pupils, including giving assistance to those with learning difficulties and disabilities. Throughout the school, teachers share the purpose of the lesson with their pupils very effectively. This helps them to know what they are expected to learn and to reflect on their progress at the end of the lesson. However, there are significant variations between classes in teachers' expectations of what pupils can achieve, and in approaches to teaching. These include differences in the pace of lessons and the degree of motivation which the teachers

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Grade: 2

provide. Assessment procedures are used to good effect to track pupils' progress and to help plan the next steps in learning for individual pupils.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good and is enhanced very effectively by a stimulating range of educational visits and by visitors to the school. Many of these greatly enhance pupils' cultural understanding. The promotion of safe practices and healthy living through the curriculum is outstanding. The curriculum effectively develops pupils' awareness of global and environmental issues. After-school clubs and musical activities enhance the curriculum, although provision is currently restricted by building works. Pupils of all abilities enjoy a full curriculum. In the Nursery, the stimulating curriculum and excellent resources support the children's good progress. The more formal approach currently employed in the Reception classes has been identified for review in order to provide more sparkle and enjoyment to the children's learning. The teachers successfully promote the use of literacy, numeracy and computer skills in different subjects.

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Grade: 1

The quality of care, guidance and support provided by the school is outstanding. Systems for behaviour management have been revised recently and are very effective. Pupils understand what is expected and teachers apply the school's rewards and sanctions consistently well. Pupils who are learning English as an additional language are particularly well supported in both their personal and academic development. All pupils, whenever they are admitted, are enabled to settle quickly into school and to start making good progress. Support for pupils when they prepare to move on to the next stage of their education, is very effective. All aspects of health and safety are very successfully promoted and monitored. The school is working diligently to manage 4 Inspection Report: Maryland Primary School, 16 °17 November 2006 pupils' safety in the junior playground, which is in urgent need of resurfacing. The academic guidance that the school provides for pupils is outstanding. The school sets

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Grade: 1

targets for pupils, ensures that they understand them and involves them very successfully in reviewing their progress towards them. Pupils work diligently to achieve their targets, often guided by teachers' thoughtful marking.

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Grade: 2

The leadership and management of the school are good and contribute significantly to the good progress made by the pupils. The headteacher has a very clear vision to promote school improvement. Her drive and motivation establish a strong sense of commitment among staff and governors and this is proving successful in promoting improvement. Leadership at all levels is effective in supporting school improvement. Careful consideration has been given to the recently reorganised management structure and the school is rightly evaluating its effectiveness, especially in relation to the management of different subjects. The school acknowledges that more has to be done to improve the quality of teaching in order to raise standards. Governors fulfil their statutory responsibilities and have a good understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. They provide the headteacher with a good balance of support and challenge.

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Grade: 2

The school's effectiveness in tackling discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity is good and reflects the high priority it is given. Several of the key issues from the previous inspection are becoming strengths. These, combined with successful initiatives, such as the promotion of healthy lifestyles, indicate that the school is in a strong position to continue its improvement. 5 Inspection Report: Maryland Primary School, 16 °17 November 2006 .

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Grade: 2

set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: Maryland Primary School, 16 °17 November 2006

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Inspection judgements

School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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Overall effectiveness

How effective, efficient and inclusive is the provision of education, integrated care and any extended services in meeting the needs of learners? How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 2 The quality and standards in the Foundation Stage 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection

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Achievement and standards

2 How well do learners achieve? 3 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The behaviour of learners 2 The attendance of learners 2 How well learners enjoy their education 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

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and interests of learners?

1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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and interests of learners?

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average to below average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low. 7 Inspection Report: Maryland Primary School, 16 °17 November 2006

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and supporting all learners?

How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education How effectively performance is monitored, evaluated and improved to meet challenging targets How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can How effectively and efficiently resources, including staff, are deployed to achieve value for money The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities Yes Do procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements? No Does this school require special measures? No Does this school require a notice to improve? 8 Inspection Report: Maryland Primary School, 16 °17 November 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Thank you for making us feel welcome when we visited Maryland recently. It was very useful to listen to what you had to say about what you enjoy doing. Your parents and carers think that your school is a good place to be and we agree with them. All of the grown-ups look after you very well indeed. You told us that you enjoy being in school, feel safe there and know that an adult will always help you if you have a problem. Your teachers give you lots of interesting things to do and you told us how much you enjoy visits and special events. Your results in national tests in English, mathematics and science are getting better and are now similar to those of other children. Your teachers know that you could do even better, especially in writing. We have asked them to continue helping you to improve your writing. All of your teachers continually try to find ways to help you learn better. We have asked them to keep working together so that all of you get the best chance to do

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

really well. You eat lots of fruit and vegetables in school and are involved in many sports. These things help you to be healthy. You show that you care for each other, and this helps to make your school a happy place. Your playground jobs as 'caps' and 'buddies' are really important and we hope that you will keep doing these jobs well to make sure that everyone has a happy playtime. Your headteacher, teachers and governors are good at finding ways to improve your school. We know that you will help them as much as you can. We hope that you will carry on enjoying school and working hard. Yours sincerely Vanessa Ward Lead inspector 9 Inspection Report: Maryland Primary School, 16 °17 November 2006

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