St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary SchoolOfsted inspection, 1 May 2007

St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School Inspection report

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116362 Unique Reference Number Hampshire Local Authority 290515 Inspection number 1 May 2007 Inspection date John Seal HMI 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 Foundation School category 4 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 220 School

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The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Alan Welton Chair Mrs Alice Wood Headteacher 3 July 2001 Date of previous school inspection St Alban's Road School address West Leigh Havant PO9 2JX

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02392 482072 Telephone number 02392 452378 Fax number

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4 °11 Age group 1 May 2007 Inspection date 290515 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 of Her Majesty's Inspectors.

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Description of the school

St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary school is a one form entry school for pupils aged 4 - 11 years. The percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals is well below average and the number of pupils with learning difficulties and statements of special educational need is broadly in line with the national average. The school runs 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: St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School, 1 May 2007

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Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school. This is because of the first rate leadership of the headteacher who has a highly committed staff. Their ability to inspire and motivate pupils is outstanding. The school has sustained its very high standards, quality of provision and leadership that were last reported on in 2001. The provision and standards in the Foundation Stage are of a very high quality in which pupils make outstanding progress. The standards of pupils' attainment at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2 in 2006 were exceptionally high. The school ensures that pupils across the school meet and in many cases exceed challenging targets. The school has rightly identified that it needs to increase the proportion of middle ability pupils attaining higher standards in writing. Pupils' personal development and well-being are outstanding. There is a deeply-rooted spiritual approach to its every day life which is palpable. Culturally the school demonstrates its

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Grade: 1

commitment through a well-embedded link to an African school. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding. They engage enthusiastically in their learning and treat each other with utmost respect. Pupils have an outright enjoyment of school life and all it offers. They behave in a very safe manner without being reminded by adults. There is a clear understanding and enjoyment on living healthier life styles including eating well and taking a full and active part in a wide range of sporting activities. Major contributions to the community including painting murals on the local community centre's wall, and a large and high quality choir which performs at many local events. Because of the above average level of basic skills and understanding of the world of work pupils are developing a strong work ethic for their economic well-being. Teaching and learning are outstanding. Teaching is energetic, exciting and practical. Teachers

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Grade: 1

use assessment information and individual pupil information very effectively and this results in outstanding progress. It is supported by an equally outstanding curriculum. Care, guidance and support are outstanding. The school's has very thorough assessment and tracking mechanisms and is able to intervene early enough to support pupils to make outstanding progress in the core subjects. The school works exceptionally well with a wide range of partners and has fostered a valued and close relationship with the church, and services for vulnerable groups. The school has outstanding capacity to improve because of its robust and rigorous whole school approach to raising standards.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Maintain a whole school approach to improve the standards of writing.

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Grade: 1

Achievement and standards are outstanding. The skills and abilities of children who start the school vary from year to year. Some year groups start from higher levels than others. Regardless of this variability, the school has maintained exceptionally high standards at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2. The proportion of pupils that attained Level 3 at the end of Key Stage 1 and 4 of 10 Inspection Report: St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School, 1 May 2007 Level 5 at the end of Key Stage 2 in English overall, mathematics and science was significantly higher than those nationally. Although performance in English overall was very high, the school identified a slight decline in the standards of writing. The school's tracking and target setting is exemplary and meticulous across the school. The school sets challenging and aspirational targets for pupils which are secured by effective teacher assessments. These targets are met and in many cases exceeded.

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Grade: 1

This area underpins the school's work and is outstanding. Pupils' overall spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. Spiritual development is exceptionally well embedded in relationships. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding. There is a high level of courtesy and the valuing of individuals. Pupils' attendance is good because they enjoy school and are highly enthusiastic in their willingness to engage in learning. Pupils move around the school safely, the younger pupils in Reception were seen taking part in exciting outdoor activities using water and physical activity with limited intervention. Pupils have embraced healthier lifestyles. They enjoy the healthy food on offer at lunch times and even talked about how they like broccoli. They are very keen to take part in the wide range of physical activities on offer at the school. Pupils contribute exceptionally well to the community. They have strong links with the church

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Grade: 1

and a special school. The outstanding development of pupils' future economic well-being is reflected in the re-awarded Basic Skills Quality Mark.

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Grade: 1

The quality of teaching is outstanding. Teachers plan lessons with a high regard for the needs of all pupils and have very good subject knowledge. Assessment information supports pupils' outstanding progress and is meticulously detailed. Teachers have high expectations of what pupils need to learn next. Pupils know and understand their targets for improvement which enables them to learn at a very high level of independence. Teachers use practical and exciting strategies to motivate pupils. Teachers are working hard to stimulate pupils to improve their standards of writing overall. In Year 2 the creative and humorous use of a puppet enthused pupils to write well. In Year 6 a high level debate challenged pupils to think about why myths and legends often had a moral to them. All pupils make outstanding progress in reading, maths and science and at least good progress in other subjects. Pupils are being challenged to improve their writing by the use of stimulating

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Grade: 1

speaking and listening activities such as drama and other first hand practical experiences. 5 of 10 Inspection Report: St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School, 1 May 2007

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Grade: 1

The curriculum is outstanding. Pupils enjoy their learning and have an enthusiastic approach to the outstanding lessons on offer. Pupils have had fun visiting Portsmouth harbour investigating the sea-side and younger pupils in Reception were positively buzzing about collecting and studying 'bugs' and 'mini-beasts' from the school grounds. There are well established progression routes from one year to the next. Numeracy and ICT are also extremely well established in all areas of the curriculum. Pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities are sensitively and meticulously provided for and there is an effective More Able Learners Club. There is outstanding extra-curricular provision which includes a wide range of sporting and musical activities. During the inspection the choir gave a magical performance and is a treasured asset.

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Grade: 1

The care guidance and support of pupils are outstanding. The staff ensure that pupils are stimulated and motivated to make the most of their lessons. More vulnerable pupils are cared for very well. The school works well with other agencies including the very effective provision of a children's' and families drop in centre on site. The learning environment is very safe, supportive and well maintained. Displays around the school stimulate pupils' interest and curiosity. Safeguarding procedures are rigorous and meticulously monitored by senior management. The school has fostered exemplary, close working relationships with parents. As one of them stated 'St Alban's is a caring, professional and inspirational school.'

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Grade: 1

Leadership and management are outstanding. The school is led by a charismatic and inspirational headteacher. The staff have a common purpose in both raising standards whilst ensuring pupils' personal well-being and self-esteem are a priority. The school has a clear view of what it does well and where it needs to go next to maintain its long-standing high performance. It has thorough and effective self-evaluation procedures in place. Subject leaders ensure that their areas of responsibility are up-to-date and report to the governing body which has a secure overview and holds the school to account very effectively. The impact of the work of the leadership can be seen in the school's well-deserved reputation in both the local community and the diocese. 6 of 10 Inspection Report: St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School, 1 May 2007 .

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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: St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School, 1 May 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 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

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Achievement and standards

1 How well do learners achieve? 1 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

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learners?

1 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 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: St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School, 1 May 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: St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School, 1 May 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

11 May 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School, St Alban's Road, West Leigh, Havant, PO9 2JX Thank you very much for your friendly welcome when I visited your school. I enjoyed talking to you, seeing you in lessons, talking to you at playtime and meeting with your school council. You told me that your school is an outstanding school and I agree. You make outstanding progress and many of you reach exceptionally high standards in your work. This is because your teachers and helpers give you very exciting lessons which are great fun to be in. (I especially enjoyed meeting that very funny multi-coloured bird in Year 2 who was learning to write with you!) You also work very hard and concentrate well on what you have to do. You have many opportunities to learn outside the school day, particularly sport and music. I loved listening to your choir which sang most beautifully. Some of you need to

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

work with your teachers on how you can make even more progress by learning exactly what it is you need to do to improve your writing. Your teachers are exceptionally good at checking how well you are getting on so they can help you do better. They are working hard to plan ways to do this by making sure you will have even more time in lessons to speak, and discuss how to make your writing even better. Your headteacher and staff know how well the school is doing and are brilliant at making it even better and have really good plans to do this. I hope you continue to be very happy at school and learn as much as you can. Best wishes John SealHer Majesty's Inspector of Schools 10 of 10 Inspection Report: St Alban's Church of England Aided Primary School, 1 May 2007

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