Stoke Park Junior School

Stoke Park Junior School Inspection report

p.1

115871 Unique Reference Number Hampshire Local Authority 290354 Inspection number 17 °18 May 2007 Inspection dates Pritiben Patel Reporting inspector

p.1

This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

p.1

Junior Type of school Community School category 7 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 372 School

p.1

The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs O Sumner Chair Mr A Heyes Headteacher 17 February 2003 Date of previous school inspection Underwood Road School address Bishopstoke Eastleigh SO50 6GR

p.1

02380 612789 Telephone number 02380 653212 Fax number

p.1

7 °11 Age group 17 °18 May 2007 Inspection dates 290354 Inspection number .

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Introduction

The inspection was carried out by three Additional Inspectors.

p.3

Description of the school

Stoke Park is a large junior school. The school has a Speech and Language Centre for pupils with speech, language and communication needs. The majority of pupils are of White British origin with a small percentage of pupils from mixed and other backgrounds. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and those who speak English as an additional language is significantly below average. There are few pupils eligible for free school meals. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is below the national average however, the percentage with a statement of special educational need, is above the national average. The school has been awarded Investors in People, Healthy Schools, Activemark and ICT Mark.

p.3

Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 10 Inspection Report: Stoke Park Junior School, 17 °18 May 2007

p.3

Grade: 1

Stoke Park is an outstanding school, and the over-whelming majority of parents agree. One parent summed up the outstanding work of the school, 'The school is excellent. I cannot praise the staff enough. All children are happy to be here and are very well educated, cared for and looked after. My daughter loves going to school and has made remarkable progress since attending here'. Leadership and management are outstanding. The strong leadership of the headteacher, with his continued focus on monitoring and evaluating all aspects of the school, including teaching and learning and the curriculum have resulted in both of these key areas being outstanding. Teaching meets the needs of all pupils and highly positive relationships exist between pupils and teachers. Teachers put a considerable amount of thought and care into making the classroom environment as enjoyable and engaging as possible for pupils. This results in pupils' outstanding

p.4

Grade: 1

enjoyment of lessons. The curriculum has exemplary enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities. Governors have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and weakness, play an active role in self-evaluation, visit lessons, attend school trips and make an outstanding contribution to its development. Capacity to make further improvement is excellent as demonstrated by pupils' outstanding achievement. Pupils enter the school in Year 3 with attainment that is average. They make outstanding progress and attain standards that are well above average by the time they leave. Standards in English are not as high as in other subjects, because pupils are not given sufficient opportunities to develop their writing skills across the curriculum. The headteacher and all staff place a strong emphasis on the personal development of pupils and consequently all aspects are outstanding. Pupils' behaviour, understanding about safe

p.4

Grade: 1

practices, adoption of healthy lifestyles particularly through sport, is excellent. They make an outstanding contribution to the school. Their preparation for economic well-being is outstanding as demonstrated by their outstanding basic skills. Attendance is satisfactory and the school is working hard to improve it further. The care, guidance and support provided for pupils are outstanding. Excellent support is provided for pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities, allowing them to make outstanding progress. Pupils in the Speech and Language Centre are also supported very well by highly skilled teachers; consequently they too, make outstanding progress in line with their peers. The school has outstanding links with feeder and secondary schools to ease transition for pupils as well as with external agencies, in order to meet pupils' individual needs.

p.4

What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards in English by extending opportunities for pupils to practise their writing skills across the curriculum.

p.4

Grade: 1

Achievement is outstanding and standards are well above average. Pupils make rapid progress because of the excellent teaching they receive throughout the school. From broadly average starting points, pupils attain well above average standards by the end of Year 6. Standards overall have remained well above average since the last inspection and were exceptionally high 4 of 10 Inspection Report: Stoke Park Junior School, 17 °18 May 2007 in mathematics and science in 2004 and 2005. There was a dip in 2006 but pupils continued to make very good progress from their starting points in Year 3. The school's data shows that standards are likely to improve significantly in 2007, and the school is in line to exceed its challenging targets. Pupils' excellent behaviour and very positive attitudes contribute greatly to their rate of progress. Pupil's progress in writing is not as strong as the outstanding progress

p.4

Grade: 1

they make in mathematics and in science. The school is working hard to address this, with some success, by extending the opportunities pupils have to practise their writing skills across the curriculum. Pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities make outstanding progress because they are given excellent support by skilled teaching assistants.

p.5

Grade: 1

All aspects of personal development including social, moral, spiritual and cultural development are outstanding. Pupils are justifiably proud of their school and cannot think of anything that they would like to change. Pupils' contribution to their school is outstanding as they are involved in a wide range of activities such as the school council, the house system and raising money for charity. Pupils are taught to value the differences between people, and are very well prepared for life in a multicultural society. They show a clear moral awareness by supporting many charities and they cherish their own beautiful environment, by being actively involved in composting and caring for wildlife. Pupils' behaviour and enjoyment are outstanding due to a wide range of clubs and visits provided by the school such as a trip to France. Pupils have an excellent understanding about healthy lifestyles and their own safety. They can explain in detail about water safety and road safety.

p.5

Grade: 1

Standards in literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT) are outstanding. Consequently, pupils are prepared excellently for the next stage of their education.

p.5

Grade: 1

Pupils' achievement is outstanding because teaching is outstanding. Teachers work closely with each other and with teaching assistants to ensure that pupils' needs are met. They make excellent use of the school's assessment information to pitch the work at the right level for all groups of learners. Classrooms are lively, stimulating and teachers make excellent use of resources such as interactive whiteboards to enliven their teaching. This captivates pupils' interest in their work. Pupils are enthusiastic learners because teachers make the purpose of lessons clear and provide exciting and purposeful activities for pupils. Teachers carefully check pupils' understanding in lessons, to ensure that they are on track to meet the lesson aims and adjust their teaching accordingly. Pupils' work is very carefully marked with detailed comments and guidance to help them improve.

p.5

Grade: 1

The curriculum is outstanding with some exemplary features such as outstanding enrichment activities and extra-curricular provision. Enrichment opportunities such as, 'Rights, Respect and Responsibilities Day' ensures that pupils learn about their own rights as well as the human 5 of 10 Inspection Report: Stoke Park Junior School, 17 °18 May 2007 rights charter, and this impacts greatly on pupils' personal as well as academic development. The vast range of extra-curricular opportunities such as football, tennis, drama and choir, impacts excellently on pupils' enjoyment of school. The curriculum is broad and balanced. Themed weeks such as, 'Art Week' and 'Book Week' bring the whole school community together and develop cultural awareness as well as an appreciation of art. All areas of the curriculum are continually reviewed and developed to ensure that they meet the needs of pupils. ICT resources are excellent and pupils make very good progress. There is an outstanding systematic

p.5

Grade: 1

development of pupils' basic skills but the school recognise that pupils would benefit from having further opportunities, to practise their writing skills in other subjects.

p.6

Grade: 1

Care and guidance are exceptionally well planned and monitored. Monitoring and tracking procedures are exemplary. Pupils have a clear understanding about their literacy and mathematics targets because teachers refer to them throughout the lessons. Teachers' marking is strong and pupils are told clearly about their next steps for improvement. Health and safety routines, risk assessments and child protection procedures are robust. Supervision around the school is excellent and pupils benefit greatly from a vast range of playground activities. Pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities are supported outstandingly well by teachers and highly skilled teaching assistants; as a result they make outstanding progress. The school has developed excellent links with both the infant and secondary schools in order to aid seamless transition for pupils.

p.6

Grade: 1

The headteacher has worked hard to structure the leadership team, in order to enhance pupils' progress in all areas, and this works very well and impacts strongly on pupils' outstanding achievements. Year leaders along with subject leaders are accountable for the achievements of the pupils within their year group. This ensures that pupils' progress is checked, reviewed and acted upon continually. Year leaders and subject leaders also work very closely and highly effectively together to ensure coverage of the curriculum as well as to develop initiatives to enhance pupils' enjoyment and achievement. Challenging targets are set based on this comprehensive overview of pupils' progress. Areas such as the curriculum and teaching and learning are constantly monitored and reviewed to ensure the needs of pupils are met. The school's self evaluation is outstanding as leaders at all levels share the same vision, support

p.6

Grade: 1

each other very well and are clearly focused on raising pupils' achievements further. 6 of 10 Inspection Report: Stoke Park Junior School, 17 °18 May 2007 .

p.6

Grade: 1

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 7 of 10 Inspection Report: Stoke Park Junior School, 17 °18 May 2007

p.7

Inspection judgements

School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

p.8

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 effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 1 The capacity to make any necessary improvements Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection

p.8

Achievement and standards

1 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 1 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

p.8

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

p.8

and interests of learners?

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

p.8

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: Stoke Park Junior School, 17 °18 May 2007

p.8

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: Stoke Park Junior School, 17 °18 May 2007

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

4 June 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of Stoke Park Junior School,Eastleigh,SO50 6GR On behalf of the inspectors I would like to thank you very much for being helpful when we came to visit your school. We really enjoyed meeting you, talking to you and looking at all your work. You go to an outstanding school and here are the reasons why. • You make excellent progress because your lessons are outstanding. • You get on very well with each other and your teachers. • Although you have satisfactory levels of attendance your enjoyment of school is outstanding, because of the superb range of activities that are available for you. • All of the adults in your school make sure that you are very safe, happy and very well looked after. • The headteacher, governors and staff work very hard on your behalf. Even in an outstanding school like yours there is an area that can be improved. We believe that you should all have more opportunities to practise your writing skills across the curriculum, so

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

that you can get even higher standards in English. I am sure that you will rise to this challenge! With best wishes for your future success, Pritiben Patel Lead inspector 10 of 10 Inspection Report: Stoke Park Junior School, 17 °18 May 2007

p.10