The Grove Primary School

The Grove Primary School Inspection report

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114046 Unique Reference Number Durham Local Authority 289791 Inspection number 13 °14 June 2007 Inspection dates Margaret Armstrong 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 186 School

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The governing body Appropriate authority Mr John Hillery Chair Mrs Elizabeth Hume Headteacher 1 June 2002 Date of previous school inspection Oakfield Lane School address The Grove Consett County Durham DH8 8AP

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01207 502938 Telephone number 01207 502938 Fax number

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3 °11 Age group 13 °14 June 2007 Inspection dates 289791 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

This is a smaller than average school, which serves an area of considerable social and economic disadvantage. When children start school their attainment is well below what is typical for their age; many have delayed language development and/or speech difficulties. There is an above average percentage of pupils eligible for a free school meal. There is a very high proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and the number who have a statement of special educational need is above average. A very small proportion of pupils are from minority ethnic groups; none speak English as an additional language. An equally small number of pupils are looked after. There is an increasing level of pupil mobility. The school provides breakfast and after school clubs.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 10 Inspection Report: The Grove Primary School, 13 °14 June 2007

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Grade: 2

This is a good school, which provides good value for money. It has outstanding features. It works within a challenging social context where many of the pupils need considerable help and encouragement for them to learn successfully. Parents are very supportive of the school and speak of the welcoming atmosphere where their children feel ‘loved and supported’. The dedicated leadership of the headteacher underpins the inclusive nature of the school. As a result, most pupils achieve well and make very good progress in their personal development. Standards are average by the end of Year 6. Provision in the Foundation Stage is outstanding so that children quickly become busy, independent learners and achieve very well. In Years 1 and 2 they make good progress because teaching builds well upon their prior learning. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and those who are vulnerable receive high quality

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Grade: 2

support and achieve well in relation to their capabilities. The progress of higher attaining pupils is more erratic because teachers do not always plan to challenge them sufficiently. The personal development and well-being of pupils are outstanding. Pupils feel well supported and cared for. They enjoy coming to school and this is reflected in improving attendance levels. All pupils have an excellent understanding of how to stay healthy, keep themselves safe and how to become responsible members of the school community. Their good learning, along with the school’s very strong emphasis on personal development, ensures that they are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Teaching and learning are good, with outstanding features. This promotes good achievement for all pupils. There are excellent relationships between staff and pupils. As a result, behaviour is outstanding and pupils show very good attitudes to learning. They respond very well to the

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Grade: 2

lively, creative curriculum, which excites and motivates them. The school takes excellent care of its pupils through rigorous safeguarding practices and a thorough knowledge of each pupil. Pupils know how well they are doing because they are given good quality advice on what they need to do next to improve. The leadership and management of the school are good. The leadership team works very effectively together, supported by the able governing body. School leaders have a clear vision for the future direction of the school; they know its strengths and areas for development well. Consequently, improvement since the last inspection is good and the school has a good capacity to improve further.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Ensure teachers’ planning is sufficiently differentiated to accommodate the needs of higher attaining pupils.

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Grade: 2

Achievement is good. Due to the excellent Nursery provision pupils make an outstanding start and achieve extremely well. They continue to make very good progress to reach standards which are close to national expectations by the end of the Reception year. Standards vary from year to year because of the differing ability profiles of the intakes. Pupils achieve well in Key Stage 1. They respond well to challenging targets and reach average 4 of 10 Inspection Report: The Grove Primary School, 13 °14 June 2007 standards by the end of Year 2. Standards are rising in both key stages and are average by the end of Year 6. In 2006, results at the end of Year 6 were below average in English, mathematics and science. This does not reflect the positive trend of improvement maintained since the last inspection. The dip in standards in 2006 is attributable to an exceptionally high level of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities within a small cohort of pupils and the effect of an

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Grade: 2

increasingly transient pupil population. The school has been particularly successful in raising achievement in writing and mathematics through the effective use of a number of intervention programmes. A good example of this is seen in the impact of the Big Write Project, which has resulted in pupils making very good progress in their ability to write creatively across the curriculum. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities achieve well, with pupils in receipt of a statement of special education need doing very well. These pupils receive very carefully planned provision to match their very specific needs. Pupils from minority ethnic groups and those who are looked after also make good progress. Although there is some variation in the attainment of boys and girls, there is no discernible pattern. Higher attaining pupils do not achieve as well as they could because the level of challenge is not high enough in some lessons.

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Grade: 1

Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is outstanding. Children feel very welcome and secure when they start school and they rapidly develop very good social skills. Relationships are excellent and, as a result, pupils are very well behaved and manage their feelings and emotions very well. They feel safe because they know any incident of harassment will be dealt with quickly. Pupils enjoy learning and take part enthusiastically in the many exciting opportunities the school provides. The school promotes healthy lifestyles very well. This enables pupils to make informed choices about the food they eat and to take regular exercise. Pupils take a great pride in their contributions to the community. They appreciate the playground buddies system, act responsibly as members of the school action nutrition group and sing enthusiastically with the Salvation Army. The good grounding

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Grade: 1

pupils receive in their social and basic skills prepares them well for the next stages of learning. Attendance is satisfactory and has improved this year.

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good and in some lessons, outstanding. Pupils work hard and are very keen to do well. For example, learning in the Foundation Stage is highly effective because teachers and support staff are very clear about what they want children to learn and exciting activities are offered, which fully support their needs and abilities. Generally, lessons are well planned and resources, including computer technology, used well to enrich learning. This was particularly evident in a Year 5 writing lesson where pupils made very good use of a range of seascape artefacts when writing inspiring desert island diaries. Where teaching is satisfactory, planning does not always identify the level of challenge for higher attaining pupils. Where this is the case, the pace of learning is slower and the level of pupils’ engagement less secure. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are very well supported and learn at a fast rate.

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Grade: 2

5 of 10 Inspection Report: The Grove Primary School, 13 °14 June 2007

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Grade: 1

The school provides a stimulating curriculum with a wide range of enrichment activities, such as challenges for gifted and talented pupils and an emphasis on the performing arts. As a result, pupils are excited about their learning. The opportunities for learning beyond the classroom are excellent. This gives pupils the chance to develop special talents or interests and prepares them well for later life. The curriculum for the Foundation Stage is outstanding; it is vibrant and creative and provides the youngest children with the best possible start to learning. All of this greatly enhances the statutory provision for all pupils, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities whose needs are very well met. The outstanding programme of social and health education helps pupils develop excellent values of trust, respect and understanding.

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Grade: 1

This aspect of the school’s work is outstanding because of the very high quality care and support each child receives. Procedures for child protection, risk assessments and health and safety are fully in place. Pupils feel safe because they know that an adult will help them if they have a problem. Induction arrangements are excellent. Procedures for welcoming pupils new to the school help them settle in quickly and feel part of the school community. In the Foundation Stage, great care is taken to ensure that information on new starters is collated quickly and support targeted where it is needed. The provision for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is very good and is very well supported by excellent links with external agencies. Systems for monitoring pupils’ progress are thorough and this means vulnerable pupils are identified quickly and support targeted well. Pupils are guided to assess their own learning and

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Grade: 1

focused marking by teachers gives good advice on how they can improve their learning.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good. The caring and dedicated leadership of the headteacher is outstanding. As a result, the school’s inclusion practices are well established. The impact of this provision is seen in the good progress made by the majority of learners. The deputy headteacher successfully supports the headteacher through specific significant contribution to the development of the school. For example, her excellent leadership of the Foundation Stage has resulted in children achieving very well. Self-evaluation procedures are comprehensive and provide an accurate picture of what is working well and what needs attention. Teaching and learning are monitored regularly by senior leaders and support is provided when required. However, leaders have not yet been successful in ensuring planning consistently identifies appropriate levels of challenge for higher attaining pupils. Governors know the school well and

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Grade: 2

play a full part in planning its development. 6 of 10 Inspection Report: The Grove Primary School, 13 °14 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. 7 of 10 Inspection Report: The Grove Primary School, 13 °14 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? 1 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 1 The behaviour of learners 3 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 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. 8 of 10 Inspection Report: The Grove Primary School, 13 °14 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? 9 of 10 Inspection Report: The Grove Primary School, 13 °14 June 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

15 June 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of The Grove Primary School, County Durham, DH8 8AP Thank you for the part you played in the inspection of your school. Your comments were very helpful in helping Mr Lowes and I get to know your school in the short time we were with you. We think your school is a good school. You are right to be proud of it because your headteacher, the staff and governors care very much about you all and make sure you receive a good education. We could see you really enjoy school and that you are excited about your learning. We were really impressed by the way Year 6 pupils talked about their visit to the ‘Forest Classroom’. You are learning to live healthy lives by eating lots of fruit and vegetables and drinking water. We know you take lots of exercise and try to keep fit. We think your school gives you good opportunities through the school councils to present your views on new

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

developments like the Big Write Project. We also liked the way you support your local community through your involvement in fund raising activities. We know how caring you are by the way you support children who live in The Hope Centre in Nepal. You all make very good progress in learning to be responsible and caring individuals. Your teachers are working hard to make lessons interesting and we liked the work you have done about managing your feelings and being kind to each other. You told us you feel safe in your school and we think the ‘Worry Box’ is a really good way of helping you share your problems with an adult. We thought your behaviour was excellent. You were all polite and respectful and we were impressed with your very good attitudes to learning. We were really pleased to hear one of you say ‘Our school is nice because it cares’. We certainly agree with you! Your school is working hard to make sure you are all challenged in your learning. I have asked

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

the school to make sure this is the case for all pupils who are able to do even harder work. This will make sure you all continue to make good progress and that you are well prepared for your move to your secondary school at the end of Year 6. We really enjoyed our visit to your school and we hope you will all continue to try hard and do your best in the future. Yours sincerely Margaret Armstrong Lead Inspector 10 of 10 Inspection Report: The Grove Primary School, 13 °14 June 2007

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