James Brindley Community Primary SchoolOfsted inspection, 28 Jun 2007

James Brindley Community Primary School Inspection report

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105918 Unique Reference Number Salford Local Authority 287365 Inspection number 27 °28 June 2007 Inspection dates Margaret Lewis 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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Primary Type of school Community School category 3 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 231 School

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The governing body Appropriate authority Cllr B Pennington Chair Mrs C Ward Headteacher 13 January 2003 Date of previous school inspection Parr Fold Avenue School address Walkden Worsley Manchester Lancashire M28 7HE

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0161 7908050 Telephone number 0161 9503384 Fax number

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3 °11 Age group 27 °28 June 2007 Inspection dates 287365 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 two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

James Brindley is an average sized school. Most pupils come from a favourable social - economic background and a below average proportion of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Almost all pupils speak English as their first language and the vast majority are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average and the school has a few looked after children. It holds the Investors in People Award.

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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: James Brindley Community Primary School, 27 °28 June 2007

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Grade: 2

This is a good school, with outstanding features in pupils' personal and social development and in the way they are cared for, supported and guided. The inspection confirmed the school's view of how effective it is and that it gives good value for money. Parents are kept well informed and the great majority of parents are very happy with the school and all the opportunities it offers to their children. The headteacher, supported by an enthusiastic senior management team, staff and governors, provides very good leadership in creating a welcoming, bright and well kept school where all pupils are valued and helped to grow into articulate, mature, well-mannered individuals. Children clearly love their school, are very happy there, showing a high level of enthusiasm for all activities. Consequently, attendance is above average and punctuality is good. Pupils' behaviour is excellent. They are polite, friendly and considerate towards each other. As one pupil said,

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Grade: 2

'Someone will always come and see if you are alright if you fall down or are on your own.' Good academic and social skills ensure that pupils are well prepared for their economic future and life as responsible citizens. Pupils have a very good understanding of conservation issues and an excellent knowledge of the importance of keeping themselves safe and healthy. This is well demonstrated by the large number of pupils attending the pre-school keep fit sessions each morning and in the choice of healthy options at lunchtimes. The very good range of enrichment activities offered by the school of clubs, many visits including a residential visit, and visitors into school makes their learning interesting. Good teaching and a good curriculum ensure that pupils achieve well and attain standards that are above average. Pupils have good oral skills and very good attitudes to work. They say, 'We work hard and we play hard and enjoy our lessons.' Teachers plan lessons and their assessment

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Grade: 2

well to make learning enjoyable and meaningful. In science, pupils enjoy the regular 'Eureka Days' which contribute well to teacher assessment and provide sustained opportunities to engage in scientific investigations. However, marking of pupils' work is inconsistent between classes. Although some is good, some does not give pupils enough help. Children progress well in the Foundation Stage due to good provision. Good progress continues through Key Stage 1 where standards are consistently average and are improving, especially in writing. In Key Stage 2, although there is an upward trend overall, the pattern of progress and standards dropped a little in 2005. Rigorous actions, put in place by the leadership team in English and mathematics, recovered standards in 2006 to be significantly above average overall. The work of the current Year 6 pupils and assessment information show that standards are similar,

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Grade: 2

although fewer pupils may reach the higher levels in English and mathematics than in 2006. Many parents commented on the high level of care shown towards their children along with the good provision for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The school has very good systems for assessment that track and monitor pupils' progress carefully. Those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, and the small number who speak English as an additional language, are well supported so that they make good progress. The two issues from the last inspection have been successfully dealt with. The strong commitment of staff and the leadership and management team shows that the school has a good capacity for further improvement.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Accelerate the levels of progress of more able pupils so that more reach the higher levels in English and mathematics. 4 of 11 Inspection Report: James Brindley Community Primary School, 27 °28 June 2007 • Ensure that marking is consistent in helping pupils to improve their work.

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Grade: 2

Achievement is good. All pupils make good progress throughout the school as they build well on their previous learning. By the end of Year 6, standards are significantly above average in English and mathematics, and average in science. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make good progress and achieve well, in some cases reaching the nationally expected level in English and mathematics. Over the past four years, standards have fluctuated but generally show an upward and improving trend. The school met its challenging targets in English and mathematics in 2006 and is likely to do so for 2007, although a smaller proportion of pupils in Year 6 are expected to reach the higher levels in English and mathematics. Children start in Nursery with a wide range of attainment that is broadly average overall but varies from year to year. They make a good start in the Foundation Stage so that by the end

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Grade: 2

of Reception, they are above average in some areas such as personal and physical development, although literacy and mathematical development is average. Good progress continues in Key Stage 1 so that by the end of Year 2, they are in line with national averages in reading and mathematics and above average in writing. Results in both key stages dipped slightly in English over recent years but, as a result of a whole-school priority on reading, writing and drama, these are now showing a recovery.

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Grade: 1

The school places a high emphasis on promoting positive relationships and mutual respect. As a result, behaviour and relationships between pupils and between pupils and adults are outstanding. They show a high level of courtesy to each other and to visitors. Pupils have an excellent knowledge of what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle, and the school has achieved the Healthy Schools National Standard. The 'Eco Warriors' initiative has enabled the school to achieve the Eco Schools Silver standard and pupils are proud of their achievements in promoting more sustainable lifestyles. This supports their excellent personal development and enables them to make a positive contribution to their community. Pupils enjoy their learning and have first rate attitudes to their work. They appreciate the wide range of additional sporting and creative opportunities available to them and say that they feel very safe in school. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good with cultural

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Grade: 1

awareness being very effectively promoted through links with other European countries. Money is raised for local and national charities using the pupils' ideas. Special responsibilities such as the prefect system and the introduction of a playground leader scheme provide them with very good opportunities to develop responsible attitudes in preparation for adult life.

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Grade: 2

The quality of teaching and learning is good, with examples of outstanding teaching. The best teaching is enthusiastic and lively, based on secure knowledge of the curriculum and how pupils learn best. In these lessons, teachers have high expectations of pupils' learning and behaviour, 5 of 11 Inspection Report: James Brindley Community Primary School, 27 °28 June 2007 and relationships are excellent. Such lessons move at a brisk pace, with resources fully used and all pupils challenged to achieve well. However, in some lessons, pupils' work is not always tailored precisely enough to all their needs, especially those of the more able pupils. Some marking of pupils' work is good but the quality is inconsistent between classes. Support from teaching assistants is very effective and enables all pupils to take part in lessons, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Parents appreciate the work that all the staff

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Grade: 2

do to promote the learning and well-being of their children.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum meets statutory requirements and makes a good contribution to pupils' progress and personal development. There is an impressive range of additional sporting and creative activities, such as daily early morning keep fit sessions, a drama club, a school band and choir. The Foundation Stage makes provision for all areas of learning and the outdoor areas offer scope to provide a good range of experiences, although they could be used more extensively for free play throughout the day. The youngest children enjoy singing and speaking in French and they are confident learners. A start has been made on building creativity and relevance into the curriculum, in particular, through the school's 'Salford Wall' project, which enables pupils to learn more about local history and make links to national events. Residential trips and visits to museums, places of worship and local businesses bring the curriculum more alive for pupils. Information and

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Grade: 2

communication technology is used well for demonstration in lessons and to enhance the curriculum.

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Grade: 1

The school takes extremely good care of its pupils and all the required procedures are firmly in place. Staff are vigilant about risk assessment and child protection procedures are robust. Pupils say that they feel safe and secure in school and are looked after very well. Parents are pleased with the care their children receive. Pupils are confident that they can rely on staff to be fair, helpful and encouraging and there is always at least one person they can talk to. There is very good provision for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. It works very well with outside agencies. The school holds the Basic Skills Quality Mark. Academic support and guidance are good because systems for tracking pupils' progress are thorough and result in targeted action being taken.

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Grade: 2

Since the last inspection the headteacher has moved the school forward with the good support from the deputy headteacher, senior management team and governors. Standards have risen overall and pupils achieve well. School evaluation is mostly accurate. The school has undergone extensive refurbishment and pupil numbers have increased. Recent staff changes and appointments have been well handled and subject leaders are beginning to develop their roles effectively. The budget is very well managed and the school is very well resourced. Good partnerships with outside agencies, particularly for pupils with learning difficulties and/or 6 of 11 Inspection Report: James Brindley Community Primary School, 27 °28 June 2007 disabilities, those with English as an additional language and with the local secondary school help pupils make good progress. The school takes full account of parents', pupils', staff and governors' views and acts upon them. Consequently, priorities for improvement are agreed.

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Grade: 2

Individual progress is tracked from term to term and year to year to enable intervention to take place for pupils when needed. Senior staff monitor the effectiveness of teaching effectively and analyse pupils' test results and teacher assessments thoroughly and regularly. As a result, the school knows what needs to be done to raise standards further and plans effectively in these areas. Governance is good. Governors are kept well up to date and informed closely about the school's performance. They also know about the school through involvement with its life and its work enabling them to play an effective part in the management of the school. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: James Brindley Community Primary School, 27 °28 June 2007 .

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Grade: 2

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: James Brindley Community Primary School, 27 °28 June 2007

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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? 2 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?

2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 1 The behaviour of learners 2 The attendance of learners 1 How well learners enjoy their education 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 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. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: James Brindley Community Primary School, 27 °28 June 2007

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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? 10 of 11 Inspection Report: James Brindley Community Primary School, 27 °28 June 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Inspection of James Brindley Community Primary School, Worsley, M28 7HE Thank you very much for your help when we inspected your school. You made us so welcome and you were especially polite that it was a delight to be with you. We enjoyed seeing your lessons, looking at your work and talking to you. I would like to say a special thank you to the members of the school council who came to talk about school life and to those of you who talked to the inspectors at lunchtime and as we went around the school. All the adults in your school look after you very well. They work exceptionally well to help you grow into responsible and mature young people. You learn to care for each other, the environment and how to keep yourselves safe, fit and healthy. We were very impressed by the keep fit sessions that you enjoy before school each day and so pleased to see how keen you all are to take part! You enjoy your lessons, behave extremely well and do a lot of work so that you achieve well.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

The teachers make your lessons interesting and teach you well. There are plenty of after school clubs for you to enjoy and lots of visits to interesting places. Your headteacher leads the school very well. She and your teachers know exactly how each of you is doing. The headteacher is proud of you all, encourages you to work hard but also wants you to enjoy school life especially in sports and in learning about your local history. You do well in your school results but we would like you to do even better so that more of you reach the higher levels in tests. I'm sure you will try to do this. We have asked the teachers to make sure that when they mark your work they consistently tell you how you can improve it even more. We hope you keep on working hard and enjoying school. 11 of 11 Inspection Report: James Brindley Community Primary School, 27 °28 June 2007

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