Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School

Inspection Report Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School

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109163 Unique Reference Number South Gloucestershire Local Authority 288297 Inspection number 12 °13 December 2006 Inspection dates Christine Huard 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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Memorial Road School address Primary Type of school Hanham Voluntary controlled School category Bristol BS15 3LA 4 °11 Age range of pupils 01454 867145 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01454 867146 Fax number 223 Number on roll (school) Jacqueline Croucher Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Richard Orr Headteacher 14 October 2002 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 288297 12 °13 December 2006 4°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 two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This primary school is located to the east of Bristol. It serves a mixed community, and the proportions of pupils with learning difficulties and those entitled to free school meals are broadly average. Attainment on entry into Reception varies from group to group; it is average overall in most areas of the curriculum, but below that expected in early reading and writing skills and mathematical development.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, 12 °13 December 2006

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Grade: 3

Christ Church Hanham is a satisfactory school, providing a sound education for its pupils. The school's values of 'we care, we share, we learn' have been adopted by all members of the school community. Teachers share ideas and concerns and discuss teaching and learning in an atmosphere of mutual support. As a result, new initiatives to improve teaching and learning, such as the introduction of interactive whiteboards, have been embraced wholeheartedly and have increased pupils' motivation as well as adding to their enjoyment of learning. The achievement of the pupils is satisfactory overall and they attain broadly average standards. The standards reached by pupils in Year 6 in the 2006 national tests were average in English, mathematics and science. These results showed improvement from the previous year, particularly for higher-attaining pupils, and demonstrate satisfactory achievement. Children in Reception make satisfactory progress because they receive

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Grade: 3

consistently sound teaching across all areas of their curriculum. In Years 1 and 2, pupils achieve appropriately. Standards in mathematics and reading are average, although girls do much better in reading than boys. Standards in writing are lower than those expected and this is a pattern throughout the school. This is because boys do not perform as well as girls, and pupils do not have sufficient opportunities to practise their writing skills. In addition, monitoring has not been rigorous enough to identify exactly what needs to be done to improve. Teaching and learning are satisfactory. Pupils enjoy positive relationships with their teachers. Teachers have good questioning skills and ensure pupils know what they are going to learn and why. Although work is usually matched to the needs of individuals, pupils are not always sufficiently challenged by the amount of work they are expected to produce in a given time. In addition, pupils do not always know what to do to

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Grade: 3

improve because their targets are not sufficiently precise and marking does not always provide them with helpful comments. Pupils' personal development and well-being are good. Pupils enjoy school and this is reflected in their improving attendance. They have positive attitudes towards their work and a desire to do well. They have a good understanding of the need for a healthy lifestyle. There are sound opportunities for pupils to work together and solve problems, which prepares them appropriately for their future life. Care, guidance and support are good. Pupils are very well looked after. They understand the need to stay safe and have numerous opportunities to take responsibility. The curriculum is satisfactory and there is a good range of extra-curricular and enrichment activities. However, planning does not identify opportunities for writing across all subjects. Leadership and management are satisfactory. The headteacher and senior leadership

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Grade: 3

team know how well the school is doing and their self-evaluation is generally accurate. Subject leaders work hard. Mathematics and science leaders use the information from data to identify specific areas for improvement so that all pupils can reach their potential. Appropriate areas for development in English have been identified, but more needs to be done to bring about improvements. 2 Inspection Report: Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, 12 °13 December 2006

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What the school should do to improve further

• Monitor more closely achievement in reading and writing in order to identify specifically where improvements need to be made, particularly in relation to the performance of boys. • Identify and provide more opportunities for writing in all subjects in order to raise standards in writing across the school. • Raise the quality of marking and assessment so that pupils know and understand what they need to do to improve their work.

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Grade: 3

Overall, standards are broadly average and the achievement of pupils is satisfactory. Children in Reception achieve satisfactorily, although by Year 1 most children still do not have all the skills expected in reading, writing and mathematics. Standards at the end of Year 2 are average, although they are below average in writing. Boys did not do well enough in either reading or writing in the most recent tests. Results at the end of Year 6 have improved recently and the school met its challenging targets last year. Standards are broadly average in English, mathematics and science and pupils' achievement is satisfactory. However, performance in writing has not been as strong as that in other areas. Pupils with learning difficulties achieve similarly to their peers and receive sound support when they are working in small groups.

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Grade: 2

Pupils enjoy coming to school. They respond well in lessons and are keen to participate in school events. Behaviour is satisfactory. Most pupils behave well in lessons and around the school, although there are lapses from a small minority of pupils. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. Pupils have a clear understanding of right and wrong and take on a wide range of responsibilities around the school. They have a good understanding of different cultures and faiths. Pupils' understanding of the need for a healthy lifestyle is good. They have responded well to the 'walk to school' challenge and keenly participate in sports activities. Pupils know how to keep safe and to look after others. Class representatives contribute positively, through the school council, to community decisions. Many local and national charities benefit from the efforts of the pupils to raise money. They develop sound skills for the future

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Grade: 2

through the regular practice of sharing ideas with 'talk partners' and group discussion, although basic skills, especially in writing, require considerable improvement. 3 Inspection Report: Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, 12 °13 December 2006

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Grade: 3

Teaching in Reception is satisfactory and the work is soundly matched to children's individual needs. Pupils enjoy their learning and have good relationships with their teachers. Some teachers do not have sufficiently high expectations of what their pupils can achieve and they do not always challenge them enough. Teachers occasionally talk for too long, which means pupils do not have enough time to complete tasks. This particularly hinders their progress in writing because too little work is completed and the quality of presentation is not good enough. Throughout the school, teachers use the interactive whiteboards very effectively and older pupils speak enthusiastically of how interesting lessons are made for them. In most lessons, pupils participate enthusiastically. Although progress made in lessons is usually at least satisfactory, a small number of younger pupils find it difficult to concentrate, which slows their

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Grade: 3

progress. Marking is satisfactory. Some tells pupils how they can improve their work but this is not consistent and too often stamps and ticks take the place of constructive comment.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum is satisfactory. It has some good features. The curriculum for children in Reception is effective and contains a good balance of activities chosen by the children and those that are directed by the teacher. Careful planning of the main school curriculum ensures that there is good coverage of all subjects and there is a wide range of events and visits to enliven curriculum topics. These include exciting opportunities in the performing arts as well as projects such as the 'Global Challenge'. However, the school has not taken advantage of these events sufficiently to develop pupils' writing and planning does not yet identify where opportunities for writing occur in different subjects. An effective programme is in place for pupils' personal, social and health education. Provision for sport is an emerging strength. There is a wide range of after-school activities, including lunchtime homework clubs, which further enrich

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Grade: 2

Arrangements for safeguarding pupils are very good. There are regular reviews and checks, and accurate records are kept. The school is working successfully to improve attendance. The discipline policy is followed consistently to improve behaviour. Children are introduced to the Reception class with great care and sensitivity. Arrangements for older pupils transferring to their next school are very good, with special attention given to those who are vulnerable or less confident. Systems for target setting are at an early stage of development. Some pupils are motivated by targets to improve their 4 Inspection Report: Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, 12 °13 December 2006 reading and older pupils know the level they are working at in English and mathematics. Some pupils do not know what their individual targets are, and so are unaware of what they need to do to improve.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. The leadership team has a sound understanding of what the school needs to do to improve and there is a satisfactory capacity for further improvement. The school improvement plan and subject plans provide an appropriate basis for development. Subject leaders monitor their subjects soundly and there are particular strengths in the monitoring of mathematics and science, which have enabled good improvements to take place. However, monitoring of English has not been sufficiently rigorous or diagnostic and, because of the absence of the subject leader, not enough is being done to take the subject forward. The governors have a sound understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses and are becoming more involved in strategic planning and school evaluation. The school is beginning to use data appropriately to check its own performance and introduce follow-up action to bring about improvement. For example, in the past,

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Grade: 3

problem solving in mathematics was weak. To solve this, the school planned links to science and design and technology to give pupils opportunities to practice and improve their mathematics skills in practical situations. This was successful and standards have improved. The school has improved its links with parents and listens carefully to their views and those of the pupils. It takes positive action to respond to their concerns where appropriate. 5 Inspection Report: Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, 12 °13 December 2006 .

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Grade: 3

set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, 12 °13 December 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? 3 The quality and standards in the Foundation Stage 3 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 3 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

3 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 3 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 3 The behaviour of learners 3 The attendance of learners 2 How well learners enjoy their education 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 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?

2 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: Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, 12 °13 December 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: Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, 12 °13 December 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Thank you for the warm welcome you gave us when we visited your school. You certainly seem to be very happy and it was good to hear how you enjoy your work and all the extra activities in which you are involved. We think your school gives you a satisfactory education and is working hard to make it even better than this. You receive sound teaching, which enables you to reach average standards and achieve satisfactorily. What we think your school does well: • You enjoy school and are keen to learn. • You take very seriously the importance of eating healthily at school and taking physical exercise. • The teachers use the interactive whiteboards well so that your lessons are made interesting for you. • The teachers and staff take good care of you while you are in school. • Your headteacher knows what must be done to make the school even better. What we have asked the school to do to improve: • You need more help to improve your reading and writing, especially the boys.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

• You need to have more opportunities to practise your writing skills in all subjects. • You need to know more about how you can improve your work and have clear targets to help you do this. We are glad you enjoy your school and hope you will continue to work hard. 9 Inspection Report: Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, 12 °13 December 2006

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