Kirton Lindsey Primary School

Inspection Report Kirton Lindsey Primary School

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117739 Unique Reference Number North Lincolnshire Local Authority 290917 Inspection number 7 °8 March 2007 Inspection dates Carole Cressey 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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Cornwall Street School address Primary Type of school Kirton Lindsey, Gainsborough Community School category

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Lincolnshire, DN21 4EH 4 °11 Age range of pupils 01652 648792 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01652 649420 Fax number 222 Number on roll (school) Mrs Barbara Spencer Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Miss Sandie Hall Headteacher 1 June 2002 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 290917 7 °8 March 2007 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

The school serves a small semi-rural market town. Most pupils come from White British backgrounds; a very small number are from minority ethnic backgrounds and have English as an additional language. There are a small number of children from Traveller families. The school has a higher than average level of mobility due to the new housing projects in the area and to the fact that there is an RAF camp situated in the town. The proportion of pupils who are entitled to free school meals is below average, as is the percentage with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The attainment of children when they start school is typical for their age.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Kirton Lindsey Primary School, 7 °8 March 2007

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Grade: 3

Kirton Lindsey is a satisfactory school. The school has an accurate insight into its strengths and weaknesses and is aware what needs to be done to raise standards and achievement. However, the rate of improvement, although satisfactory, has been slowed down because of complex staffing issues, fluctuating numbers and a major rebuilding programme. As a result, initiatives to improve provision have not always been fully successful in improving the quality of the school’s provision. Whilst a significant minority of parents have concern about the school, particularly behaviour and the effectiveness of the leadership and management, the majority have confidence in the school and are satisfied with the progress their children make and the care they receive. Leadership and management are satisfactory, but the effects of actions taken to raise standards are not monitored closely enough. Children enter Reception with attainment that is typical for their ages and by the end

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Grade: 3

of Year 6, standards are average in reading, mathematics and science. Standards in writing are below average because boys particularly do not achieve well enough. Throughout the school, including the Foundation Stage, teaching, curriculum and care are satisfactory. The school supports those pupils with complex disabilities and difficulties well and as a result they make sound progress towards their targets. Relationships are good and lessons are often peppered with good humour and an interesting exchange of ideas. However, there is insufficient good teaching, especially in English, to ensure that all pupils are well-motivated, make good progress and achieve the highest standards they can. Marking and assessments of pupils’ work are inconsistent and are not used well enough to plan work that is sufficiently challenging and matched to pupils’ abilities, interests and aptitudes. Consequently, underachievement is not always spotted early enough and this results in the pupils

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Grade: 3

concerned not achieving as well as they should, especially in writing. The vast majority of pupils show positive attitudes, behave appropriately and attend school regularly and punctually. Pupils have a sound understanding of how they can stay healthy, keep themselves and others safe and become responsible and confident members of their community. They are satisfactorily prepared for life beyond school. The school is working well with a variety of organisations, including local schools, to improve its provision. It has made satisfactory improvements since the last inspection and has satisfactory capacity to improve further.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards and improve pupils’ achievement in English, especially writing. • Ensure that initiatives to raise standards are quickly and consistently implemented across the school and their success evaluated. • Use the assessment systems to set work at the right level so all lessons challenge and interest all pupils and motivate them to do their best. 2 Inspection Report: Kirton Lindsey Primary School, 7 °8 March 2007

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Grade: 3

Standards are broadly average and achievement is satisfactory. When children start school in the Reception class, most are attaining the expected standards for their age. They make satisfactory progress and by the time they move into Year 1 the proportion of pupils who attain expected levels is similar to that seen nationally. Pupils continue to make satisfactory progress in Years 1 and 2 and reach average standards. Although the 2006 tests showed standards were significantly above average, assessments at the end of Year 2 are inconsistent and do not always reflect the standards pupils are reaching. School data indicates that standards are broadly average at the start of Year 3. In the 2006 tests for Year 6, the school did not reach its targets but there were improvements in the achievement of pupils from the previous years. Standards were average for reading, mathematics and science and pupils’ achievement was satisfactory.

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Grade: 3

Results in writing were not as good. Standards were below average and too few pupils, particularly boys, reached the higher levels of which they were capable. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities receive effective support and make satisfactory progress towards their targets. The very few pupils with English as an additional language make satisfactory progress and reach similar standards to their peers. Pupils from Traveller families do not always achieve as well as they could because of gaps in their schooling. Pupils who enter school at times other than in the Reception class usually reach the standards expected for their ages.

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Grade: 3

Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is satisfactory. Pupils feel safe and are secure in the knowledge that adults in school are always ready to help them. Attendance is average and pupils say they enjoy school. Although behaviour is satisfactory, there is a significant minority of pupils whose restless behaviour sometimes interrupts the smooth flow of lessons. The ‘play buddies’ help to promote safe, enjoyable playtimes. Pupils have a sound awareness of major faiths but are not so well informed about the diverse cultures in society. Pupils follow the ‘golden rules’ and clearly know right from wrong. Opportunities for collaborative work and play help to develop satisfactory social skills. An understanding of economic well-being is soundly supported through opportunities for decision-making; for example, through the pupil council and by taking responsibilities around school. These measures also ensure that pupils take an

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Grade: 3

active role within the school community. Pupils know how to follow a healthy lifestyle and enjoy events such as the ‘be healthy week’. 3 Inspection Report: Kirton Lindsey Primary School, 7 °8 March 2007

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Grade: 3

Teaching is satisfactory with some good elements. In most lessons, pupils make satisfactory progress but too many lessons do not challenge pupils, particularly those who learn at a faster rate. Teachers are increasingly confident in the teaching of mathematics and science and subjects such as history and art. Many of these lessons use information and communication technology (ICT), drama, visits and visitors to engage learners. Lessons are thought-provoking and not only provide pupils with a body of knowledge but develop their thinking skills and promote their spiritual and cultural development. Pupils say they enjoy these lessons because they are interesting. Lessons in English are not always sufficiently well matched to pupils’ attainment levels and often lack challenge for higher attainers. Where this occurs, boys in particular appear bored and are reluctant to take an active part in lessons. Assessment systems,

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Grade: 3

including marking, are not used well enough to plan suitable work for pupils to ensure that they all make the progress of which they are capable.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum is satisfactory overall and is enriched by a suitable variety of visits, visitors and clubs. There is a clear emphasis on literacy and numeracy but literacy lessons are not sufficiently well planned to meet the different needs of pupils, particularly boys, to ensure they achieve as well as they can. Special teaching groups are arranged to support pupils who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities. In some cases, these provide good support but on occasions pupils miss parts of other lessons or topics. Pupils who are learning English as an additional language and the Traveller children have extra support from outside specialists and in class. Those who have special gifts or talents have opportunities to extend their learning through attending the summer school at the local college. Strategies for developing personal and social and health education are effective and this leads to a clear understanding

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Grade: 3

Care, guidance and support are satisfactory. Required child protection, safeguarding and risk assessment procedures are in place. Some parents expressed concern about first aid procedures. At the time of the inspection, the school had trained first aid personnel and effective procedures in place to record and treat minor incidents. Pupils who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities have sensitive and effective support and the staff go to good lengths to secure additional equipment or specialist help to meet individual needs. Effective partnerships with external agencies help to avoid problems that could affect the pupils’ education. For example, experts in behaviour 4 Inspection Report: Kirton Lindsey Primary School, 7 °8 March 2007 management and emotional well-being help pupils to cope with their own feelings and anxieties. Newcomers are welcomed and helped to settle quickly. The school’s systems for tracking pupils’ attainment are not yet rigorous enough to

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Grade: 3

ensure that they make the progress of which they are capable. In some classes, pupils have useful advice to help them improve and know how well they are doing in relation to their targets. However, in other classes, the guidance is too general and pupils do not refer to it.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. Along with a very supportive local authority and an increasingly well informed governing body, leadership has accurately identified what needs to be done to ensure that all pupils make better progress and achieve as well as they can. Test results, the curriculum and teaching have all been monitored and strengths and weaknesses identified accurately. Outside consultants, additional training for staff, partnerships with other schools and colleges and extra support for pupils have all helped to improve behaviour and improve achievement and progress especially in mathematics and science. Strategies to improve standards and achievement in English have not been as successful. This is because there are inconsistencies in the use of assessments and approaches to teaching and the curriculum. A strong partnership between parents, school and governors has been very effective in securing funding to create more spacious and bright surroundings.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management at all levels do not monitor and evaluate the success of strategies rigorously enough to ensure that standards improve further and all pupils achieve their best in a stimulating and challenging learning environment. 5 Inspection Report: Kirton Lindsey Primary School, 7 °8 March 2007 .

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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: Kirton Lindsey Primary School, 7 °8 March 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? 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?

3 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 3 The behaviour of learners 3 The attendance of learners 3 How well learners enjoy their education 3 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 3 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 3 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?

3 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: Kirton Lindsey Primary School, 7 °8 March 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? 8 Inspection Report: Kirton Lindsey Primary School, 7 °8 March 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Kirton Lindsey Primary School Cornwall Street Kirton Lindsey Gainsborough Lincolnshire DN21 4EH 11 March 2007 Dear Pupils Thank you so much for being so friendly and helpful when we visited your school a short time ago. We enjoyed talking with you and your teachers. We were pleased to see how you enjoy school, especially subjects such as science and history and how much you like your new classrooms. Most of you are working hard and reaching the standards your teachers expect of you, particularly in mathematics and science. We think that you could work even harder especially in English, so we have asked your teachers to give you work that challenges you and stops you being bored in lessons. We think the boys particularly could do better in writing. When we looked at your work we thought you needed more help to understand how well you are doing and what you need to do to improve. Most of you behave well in lessons and in the playground. You seem to know the importance

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

of eating sensible food and taking lots of exercise. Do keep that up because it is so important to staying healthy and happy. If you all work that bit harder you could learn a lot more, get even better results in your tests and help to make your school a really good one. So good luck! We do hope you continue to enjoy school and that it will help you to become happy and successful adults. Yours sincerely Carole Cressey Lynne Read 9 Inspection Report: Kirton Lindsey Primary School, 7 °8 March 2007

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