St Andrew's CofE Infant School

St Andrew's CofE Infant School Inspection report

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110443 Unique Reference Number Milton Keynes Local Authority 288676 Inspection number 15 October 2007 Inspection date John Earish 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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Infant Type of school Voluntary controlled School category 5 °8 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 29 School The local authority Appropriate authority Ms A Shedden Headteacher 6 July 2005 Date of previous school inspection High Street School address Great Linford Milton Keynes MK14 5AX 01908 605515 Telephone number 01908 675715 Fax number

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5-8 Age group 15 October 2007 Inspection date 288676 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 one Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

This is a very small infant school. About a half of the pupils are from minority ethnic groups and a small number are at the very earliest stages of learning English. Attainment when children start school is similar to that expected of four-year-olds. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is similar to that found nationally. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is well below average. The number of children wanting to attend the school is growing rapidly.

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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: St Andrew's CofE Infant School, 15 October 2007

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Grade: 2

The school's previous designation as having serious weaknesses no longer applies. St Andrew's has made good progress since the last inspection and its overall effectiveness is good. One of the oldest pupils commented, 'we really like our school because its fun, we learn a lot and the teachers are friendly and very helpful'. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school and their children's education. The school has been through a period of great change. The good leadership of the headteacher has created a calm, orderly and purposeful learning environment where all adults and children are equally valued. She has rebuilt staff morale and has gained the respect of parents and governors through her positive actions to bring about improvement. Pupils' personal development is good because they are well cared for at school and as a result feel secure and happy. Pupils enjoy coming to school and excitedly participate in all activities.

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Grade: 2

They treat each other with respect, behave extremely well and genuinely want to learn. Previous concerns about the rate of attendance no longer apply. It is now well above average. There are strong partnerships with the community and with outside agencies to promote learners' well-being. The school now fully complies with the arrangements for child protection. Achievement is good because the quality of teaching is good. Teachers are making good use of the new assessment procedures to match work to individual pupils' needs and to set targets to help them to improve. This was previously a weakness. Pupils now make consistently good progress during lessons because teachers have higher expectations of how much they can achieve, and pupils fully understand the targets they are set. This is particularly effective in English and mathematics and enables pupils to improve their work. The school recognises the

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Grade: 2

next step is to extend this very good practice to other subjects so that pupils have equally good guidance on the next steps in their learning. The curriculum is of good quality, and is enriched through a wide range of out of class activities. It provides opportunities for all learners, including those with learning difficulties and disabilities, to progress and develop well. The learning activities are challenging and exciting, which motivates pupils to engage willingly in lessons, concentrate well and produce a good amount of work. There are occasions, however, when opportunities for higher attaining pupils to learn independently and to show initiative are missed. Good leadership at all levels has enabled to school to address successfully the serious weaknesses in leadership and management identified at the last inspection. This is because the educational direction provided is ensuring that the pupils make consistently good progress in all classes

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Grade: 2

and achieve well. Self-evaluation involves staff at all levels and provides an accurate diagnosis of the school's strengths and weaknesses, reflecting monitoring and analysis that are searching and rigorous. The resulting well-focussed actions are bringing about sustained school improvement. This confirms the school's good capacity to improve.

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Grade: 2

The quality of education in the Foundation Stage is good and children achieve well. Children start school with skills and abilities that are similar to those expected of four-years-olds. They make good progress because teaching is of good quality and almost all reach and sometimes 4 of 11 Inspection Report: St Andrew's CofE Infant School, 15 October 2007 exceed the gaols by the start of Year 1. The good curriculum promotes children's social, personal, emotional and academic very well.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that teachers capitalise on opportunities during lessons for pupils, especially the higher attainers, to work independently and use their initiative in order to sustain rapid progress. ■ Extend the very good target setting practice in English and mathematics to other subjects so that pupils have a clear understanding of how they can improve.

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Grade: 2

There are small numbers of pupils in each year group, which means that comparisons of results from year to year are not helpful. However, the most recent validated results for 2006 show that standards were above average in reading and mathematics and significantly above average in writing. Above average standards have been maintained in 2007. The school's own tracking records show that all groups of pupils are making good progress and are achieving well including that identified with learning difficulties and disabilities. Inspection evidence supports this view. There is no complacency and the school is determined to continue working hard to raise standards even further.

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Grade: 2

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development remains good. Parents appreciate the strong emphasis on nurturing pupils' personal development. For example, one wrote that, 'this is the best infant school I have ever seen'. Pupils form good relationships with adults and with each other, and have extremely positive attitudes to learning. Consequently, behaviour is outstanding. They greatly enjoy their education because 'teachers listen to you and help you when you don't understand' with many exciting activities that enrich their lives in school. Pupils are well aware of the importance of healthy eating and staying safe. The recently formed school council take their responsibilities very seriously and represent the pupil's views well. Attendance is well above the national average. This is further evidence that pupils enjoy coming to school. Pupils rapidly acquire literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology skills

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Grade: 2

that equip them well for later life and learning.

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Grade: 2

The quality of teaching was satisfactory overall at the last inspection. It has now improved and is good overall. This is because teachers have successfully addressed a serious weakness in the way they plan and monitor pupil's work. They are successfully using the new assessment arrangements to identify, track and support pupils' learning needs, and to set group and individual targets. As a result, pupils know what they need to do to improve, make consistently good progress and achieve well. Pupils work together well and learn from each other. Learning is interesting, enjoyable and challenging because teachers use a much broader range of teaching styles and methods including the use of interactive white boards and laptop computers. However, 5 of 11 Inspection Report: St Andrew's CofE Infant School, 15 October 2007 on a few occasions teachers fail to make the most of the opportunities for higher attaining

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Grade: 2

pupils to learn independently and show initiative during lessons.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good with a good range of additional activities, which pupils thoroughly enjoy. The curriculum meets pupils' needs well and includes a good support programmes to boost the progress of pupils who need extra help. The quality and range of the activities in the Foundation Stage are good, with an effective balance between work chosen by the teacher and activities selected by the children. This provides children with a good start to their education. Throughout the school, there is a strong focus on the development of pupils' skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT. They also develop a strong sense of social responsibility through their work in personal, social and health education and circle time. For example, they recycle waste and make compost for the village. A good range of visits, visitors and extra activities and add much to the pupils' enjoyment of learning.

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Grade: 2

The staff take good care of the pupils and know them well. The last inspection required the school to make sure that 'procedures for the protection of children meet statutory requirements and are well known'. The school now meets it obligations in all respects. The very good relationships foster pupils' confidence and build trust between all members of the school community. As a result, pupils say that adults deal with any problems they may have promptly and effectively. Pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities are well supported and guided in achieving the challenging targets in their individual education plans. Very good use of target setting in English and mathematics helps pupils understand exactly what they need to do to improve their work. However, this is not yet as effective in all subjects.

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Grade: 2

Good leadership at all levels has enabled to school to eradicate the serious weaknesses identified in leadership and management at the last inspection. Progress had been affected by the local authorities decision to consult on the school's future. Morale had dipped and much time was spent preparing for the consultation. However, the future of the school has been secured. Since then, the headteacher has successfully rebuilt morale and gained the respect of parents and governors. As one parent wrote, 'There has been a remarkable change for the better' under the leadership of 'such a fantastic headteacher'. The school has successfully implemented rigorous systems for monitoring and evaluating provision to establish clear priorities for development. School review is now both searching and rigorous and results in actions to raise attainment and bring about sustained school improvement. This is because the school has clear and agreed criteria for measuring success. As a result, the

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Grade: 2

quality of teaching has improved and pupils are achieving well whatever their backgrounds or abilities. The work of the governing body has also improved despite vacancies and illness. They governors are now more fully involved in determining the strategic direction of the school. For example, 6 of 11 Inspection Report: St Andrew's CofE Infant School, 15 October 2007 they have successfully reduced the large carry forward figure so that it is within national guidelines. Spending has been carefully matched against the priorities of the school improvement plan and monitored against clear success criteria. They are knowledgeable and fully understand the issues facing the school. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: St Andrew's CofE Infant School, 15 October 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: St Andrew's CofE Infant School, 15 October 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? Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 2 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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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 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 How well learners enjoy their education 2 The attendance of learners 1 The behaviour of learners 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. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: St Andrew's CofE Infant School, 15 October 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 2 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 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: St Andrew's CofE Infant School, 15 October 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

29 October 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of St Andrew's CofE Infant School,Milton Keynes,MK14 5AX Thank you very much for making me so welcome when I visited your school recently. I was impressed with your friendliness and your sensible and helpful attitudes towards each other. Here are some of the good things we found about your school.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your school is friendly and welcoming. You behave extremely well and get on very well with each other. ■ You listen carefully to what your teachers have to say and learn a lot in lessons.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ All of the adults in your school make sure that you are well looked after.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your headteacher, and all of the other people who help run your school, are good at making sure that you get the very best education. ■ You are taught well, and when you find work hard you are given help.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

I think that you go to a good school that prepares you well for the next stage of your learning. To make it even better, however, I am asking your teachers to give you even more opportunities to use your own initiative during lessons and to work independently. They are also going to give you even more help to understand how to improve your work as they are already doing in English and mathematics. You told me you find this very helpful. You can all help by continuing to work hard and to meet the targets set for you. With best wishes, John Earish Lead Inspector 11 of 11 Inspection Report: St Andrew's CofE Infant School, 15 October 2007

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