Canon Palmer Catholic School

Canon Palmer Catholic School Inspection report

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102862 Unique Reference Number Redbridge Local Authority 286512 Inspection number 16 °17 May 2007 Inspection dates Lauren Ovenden HMI 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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Comprehensive Type of school Voluntary aided School category 11 °18 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 1261 School 327 6th form

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The governing body Appropriate authority Mr A Battle Chair Mr F Maguire Headteacher 3 December 2001 Date of previous school inspection Aldborough Road South School address Seven Kings Ilford IG3 8EU

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020 8590 3808 Telephone number 020 8597 5119 Fax number

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11 °18 Age group 16 °17 May 2007 Inspection dates 286512 Inspection number .

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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 four Additional Inspectors and one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools.

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Description of the school

This is a large school with a large sixth form. The school serves an area of slightly higher than average levels of deprivation. One third of students speak English as an additional language. There are fewer than average numbers of students with learning difficulties and disabilities. The school is a specialist science and maths school. There are more boys than girls. Students' attainment on entry to the school varies significantly from year to year, but overall is average. Over seven hundred parental questionnaires were received by inspectors, and these indicated that most parents were very happy with the school.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 11 Inspection Report: Canon Palmer Catholic School, 16 °17 May 2007

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Grade: 1

One parent wrote, 'this is a fantastic school'. Inspectors judged that this school is outstanding because students make excellent progress and achieve high standards in their GCSE examinations. Progress is particularly strong in Years 7 to 9. Standards in English, mathematics and science are high and students make excellent progress in these subjects. Students do so well because teaching is consistently good, and in some cases exceptional. This is coupled with a highly effective curriculum that is closely matched to learners' needs and very effective strategies that ensure underachievement is challenged and students are supported in a timely manner. The specialist status has enabled the school to further modify its curriculum to meet the needs and interests of its learners. For example, the most able are encouraged to take an additional qualification in mathematics at GCSE and a GNVQ in Science has been introduced to Year 10

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Grade: 1

for the less able. Catholic values underpin all aspects of the school's work. A significant strength of the school is students' attitudes to learning. During their time at school they make the most of the wide range of opportunities available and develop into mature and articulate individuals. The school places a high priority on the emotional and personal development of every student, and therefore there is an exceptionally high quality of care for individuals. Support for students at each stage of their school career is strong and the school is working hard to involve parents and carers, who are very supportive of its work. Students are given very good guidance about how to improve their work and recently increased rigour in tracking systems is helping them make outstanding progress. There is a strong, shared vision amongst staff as a consequence of the outstanding leadership of the headteacher and its effective senior leadership team. This is a school that evaluates itself

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Grade: 1

honestly and effectively. Monitoring of all aspects of the school is thorough. The regular routines of monitoring students' work and the quality of teaching have led to significant improvements in both respects. The enthusiastic, well informed and strong leadership of core subjects supports students' very good rates of progress in key skills. It has an outstanding capacity to improve further.

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Grade: 3

The overall effectiveness of the sixth form is satisfactory. Students, some of whom are new to the school in the sixth form, have achieved average results in their GCSEs. They make satisfactory progress and achieve average standards in national examinations. Their personal development and well-being are outstanding as a result of outstanding care, guidance and support. Teaching and learning in the sixth form are satisfactory. While a high proportion of teaching is focussed successfully on imparting knowledge, the development of students' independent learning is insufficiently strong. The curriculum has been adapted so that a range of vocational and academic courses at level 2 and 3 are now a better match to the needs and interests of learners. The leadership of the sixth form is satisfactory. Improvements are beginning to be made in teaching quality and in overall provision and standards. The introduction of new Heads of Year

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Grade: 3

and the increased rigour in monitoring students' progress demonstrate that the sixth form has a good capacity to improve. 4 of 11 Inspection Report: Canon Palmer Catholic School, 16 °17 May 2007

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards and achievement in the sixth form by improving the quality of teaching and learning to match the quality in the rest of the school.

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Grade for sixth form: 3

Students make outstanding progress at Key Stage 3 and achieve very high standards in English, mathematics and science. They continue to make very good progress at Key Stage 4 and therefore standards in GCSE examinations, including those who achieve the highest grades, are consistently high. Students continue to make exceptional progress in mathematics and strong progress in science at Key Stage 4. Standards in both these subjects are very high. The school is quick to identify groups of students who are not achieving as well as they could and promptly introduces support. This process is very effective. Students with learning difficulties and disabilities make similar progress to their peers because of the excellent guidance and support they are offered.

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Grade for sixth form: 1

Students' personal development and well-being are outstanding. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent. The school is a safe and caring environment because students' behaviour and attitudes to learning are excellent. Students' spiritual development is outstandingly supported through a range of provision. For example, the school's use of liturgy leaders for all classes acts as a catalyst for reflection. Citizenship and religious education programmes enable students to fully explore moral and social issues, in addition to developing their cultural awareness. Students consistently adopt safe practices and are taught well about different types of risks. Sixth form students participate in a driving awareness course tailored for young drivers. Students make wide ranging contributions to the school community, such as participating in working parties and writing the 'Palmer Post'. Some parents feel that the

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Grade for sixth form: 1

school could improve the ways in which it takes into account the views of students. Many adopt healthy lifestyles by taking part in sport and they are well educated about all aspects of healthy living through the personal, social and health education programme. However, few sixth form students participate in physical activity during the school day. Very good information and guidance about their next steps ensures that students are particularly well equipped for their future lives.

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Grade for sixth form: 3

Teaching is good with some outstanding features. Teachers have excellent relationships with their students, know and care for them well, and the atmosphere in classes is friendly. Students are very well motivated, hard working and cooperative. Teachers have a very good command 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Canon Palmer Catholic School, 16 °17 May 2007 of their subjects, plan effectively, have high expectations of work and behaviour, and use time wisely. A tight structure in many lessons ensures that students steadily grow in confidence and knowledge. This leads to outstanding progress at Key Stage 3. Learning is enhanced by the setting of regular and meaningful homework. Careful matching of tasks to the abilities of students is not sufficiently sharply focussed across all subjects. Teachers' assessment of students' progress is very good. Target grades are regularly set and students know their levels of work and what they have to do to improve. In lessons most teachers

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Grade for sixth form: 3

give good quality feedback and marking is informative and helpful.

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Grade for sixth form: 2

Curriculum provision is outstanding. A very broad range of subjects at Key Stage 4 caters for the interests and aspirations of students. The curriculum supports very effectively the development of students' literacy, numeracy and information technology skills. At Key Stage 3 a broad and balanced curriculum is enhanced by a range of effective intervention strategies. For example, a number of students identified as underachieving in Year 8 are now, in Year 9, achieving well because the curriculum was adapted to better meet their needs. The choice of subjects, including vocational courses at Key Stage 4 is excellent. Students on these vocational courses achieve well. The option choice is more flexible than at the time of the last inspection and better caters for the whole range of abilities. Many good quality activities are provided outside of lesson time, such as sports, clubs and expeditions. Provision for the

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Grade for sixth form: 2

teaching of personal, social and health education is excellent.

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Grade for sixth form: 1

Care, guidance and support are outstanding. The support for students' individual welfare is exemplary and they are well supported in their studies, such as the Year 11 'blog' that supports students during study leave. Parents describe the care for students as 'excellent'. Support for students extends as far as highly successful courses in parenting skills which are of benefit to the whole family.Catholic values are evident at all levels within the school. There is a strong emphasis on students' emotional well-being and spiritual development through the provision of a lay chaplain, student mentor and school counsellors. For example, well developed procedures ensure that the move from primary schools is a positive experience. Effective strategies are in place to support vulnerable students and those at risk of underachievement. Careers guidance is timely and provides students with very good information to enable them to make informed

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Grade for sixth form: 1

choices. One student told inspectors, 'This school is a community'. This sums up the excellent racial harmony which is clearly evident in relationships throughout the school. Child protection procedures are meticulous. Students are made aware of their target grades and are given productive advice on how to improve their work, although the tracking of the progress made by groups of students is not as well developed. 6 of 11 Inspection Report: Canon Palmer Catholic School, 16 °17 May 2007

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Grade for sixth form: 3

Leadership and management are outstanding. The headteacher's excellent leadership has driven the school forward with much success since the last inspection. His high expectations for students' achievements are reflected in very much improved results. The delegation of duties is very effective. As a result the headteacher is very well supported by leaders and managers at all levels. Through their frequent reports and a regular pattern of meetings, he is kept well informed of progress and developments across the school. As a consequence of thorough and honest self-evaluation, the school is quick to take action when aspects of the school's work are falling behind its own high expectations. For example, the relatively poorer performance in design and technology is being tackled vigorously. Staff feel valued and are enabled to contribute effectively and creatively to the school's development. The governing body has a very good understanding of the school's strengths and its areas for

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Grade for sixth form: 3

development. Governors take an active part in the school's life and are well organised. The school's robust financial systems are managed and monitored well and planned effectively for future development. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: Canon Palmer Catholic School, 16 °17 May 2007 .

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Grade for sixth form: 3

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: Canon Palmer Catholic School, 16 °17 May 2007

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Inspection judgements

16-19 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

3 1 How effective, efficient and inclusive is the provision of education, integrated care and any extended services in meeting the needs of learners? 1 1 How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 1 1 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 2 1 The capacity to make any necessary improvements Yes Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection

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Achievement and standards

3 1 How well do learners achieve? 3 2 The standards 1 reached by learners

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Achievement and standards

3 1 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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well-being of the learners?

The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 1 The behaviour of learners 1 The attendance of learners 1 How well learners enjoy their education 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 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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range of needs and interests of learners?

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

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range of 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 to below average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: Canon Palmer Catholic School, 16 °17 May 2007

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achievement 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 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? 10 of 11 Inspection Report: Canon Palmer Catholic School, 16 °17 May 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

30 May 2007 Dear Students Inspection of Canon Palmer Catholic School,Ilford,IG3 8EU As you know, we recently visited your school and enjoyed talking to a number of you. Thank you for the welcome you gave us; we were impressed by your articulate responses, your integrity and consideration as we moved around the school. Please pass on our thanks to your parents and carers for responding so well to our questionnaire. It was good to hear that they are generally very satisfied with your education, although a minority felt that the school could listen more to your views. We judged that this is an outstanding school, with a satisfactory sixth form. You contribute significantly to making this school so good; you work hard, develop strong relationships with your teachers and care for each other. We know that you enjoy school and value your teachers. You make very strong progress in Years 7 to 11 and achieve high standards. You make excellent progress at Key Stage 3 and in

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

mathematics right throughout the school. This is because teaching is consistently good, there is a very good range of courses that are adapted very effectively to match your needs, and the guidance and support you receive is outstanding. In the sixth form, you make satisfactory progress and achieve average standards at the end of your courses. You are exceptionally well supported and cared for, and as a consequence you develop into mature and considerate individuals. The headteacher has a very clear vision for your education. He and your teachers have very high expectations of what you can achieve. All the staff work well as a team to help you achieve your best. We have asked the school to focus on improving how well students achieve in the sixth form. The school has already begun to implement a range of strategies to make this happen, by focusing on improving the quality of teaching and learning. May I take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the future,

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Lauren Ovenden HMILead inspector 11 of 11 Inspection Report: Canon Palmer Catholic School, 16 °17 May 2007

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