Leconfield Primary School

Inspection Report Leconfield Primary School

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117872 Unique Reference Number East Riding of Yorkshire Local Authority 290953 Inspection number 22 °23 February 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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Arram Road School address Primary Type of school Leconfield, Beverley Community School category HU17 7NP 4 °11 Age range of pupils 01964 550303 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01964 550303 Fax number 138 Number on roll (school) Mrs Lesley Ringrose Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Jenny Farmer Headteacher 1 July 2001 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 290953 22 °23 February 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 one Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

This is a smaller than average sized village school. About half of the pupils come from the local or surrounding villages and half from the nearby local armed forces camp. Mobility in the school is very high and ranges from 35% to 45%. About half of children are from armed forces’ families. Most children come from White British backgrounds. A very small number are from minority ethnic backgrounds and have English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils who are entitled to free school meals is below average, as is the percentage with learning difficulties and disabilities. The attainment on entry to the school of children varies, depending on when they start at the school.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Leconfield Primary School, 22 °23 February 2007

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Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school, which is exceptionally well led and managed. The school’s success is a result of its very strong ethos where the care, well-being, enjoyment and achievement of every pupil are central to its work. The school has very accurate insight into its strengths and weaknesses and, as a result, is constantly improving and adapting its provision to ensure that all pupils achieve as well as they can. The school’s welcoming notice board is headed: ‘This is an I can do school’. It certainly is. No matter when pupils enter this unique school, they are given the warmest of welcomes and quickly provided with the tools to be very successful learners. Standards are above average, often significantly so. In this enterprising school, pupils make rapid progress and, by Year 6, almost all reach the expected level for their ages, with a significant number exceeding them especially in reading and mathematics.

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Grade: 1

The headteacher, staff and governors embrace all their newcomers and celebrate the many different experiences and interests they bring with them. The school has very high aspirations for every one of its pupils, including those pupils with complex disabilities and difficulties. As a result, they too make excellent progress toward their targets. The whole school community is supportive of those pupils whose parents may be on active service in a war zone. There is always an adult, friend or school councillor to listen to or talk to about any worries they might have. Teaching and learning, including in the Foundation Stage, are exciting and challenging. Work in lessons is very closely matched to the individual needs of each pupil. Teachers regularly check with great rigour how well pupils are doing through tests and observations of them at work. The curriculum is excellent and provides pupils with a wealth of opportunities to grasp their imagination and promote very effective learning.

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Grade: 1

Pupils’ personal development is outstanding. All activities, whether they are in lessons, at break time or after school, develop pupils’ love of learning and an understanding of how they can stay healthy, keep themselves and others safe and become responsible caring members of their school and local community. The school successfully works with a variety of organisations, including the local college, to provide an excellent range of sports, dance, music and languages. The pupils’ interpretation of music, song and dance adds a thrilling and moving dimension to assemblies and public performances and considerably enriches their personal and cultural development. The school has responded very well to the issues from the previous inspection and to meet new challenges. It gives excellent value for money and is exceptionally well placed to continue to be very successful.

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What the school should do to improve further

• There are no significant areas for improvement. 2 Inspection Report: Leconfield Primary School, 22 °23 February 2007

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Grade: 1

All pupils achieve very well and attain standards, which are above average and, in some years, are significantly above those seen nationally. When children start school in the Reception class, most are attaining the expected standards for their age. They make very good progress and by the time they move into Year 1 most are working at the expected levels for their ages and a good number exceed them. Good progress is maintained in Key Stage 1 and at the end of Year2, standards are significantly above average. Pupils continue to work hard in Key Stage 2 and at the end of Year 6 standards are above average. Those pupils who have been in the school for at least four years reach particularly high standards, especially in reading and mathematics. The results of the 2006 tests show that almost all pupils reached the expected level and around half of the pupils attained the higher level in these subjects. In writing, the pupils

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Grade: 1

achieved very well and the proportion reaching the expected level was significantly above average. Pupils who join the school after the beginning of Year 3 make rapid strides in their learning and by Year 6 most have reached the expected level. Pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities do well and often reach standards that exceed those expected for their ages. Girls and boys do equally well. The very few pupils from minority ethnic groups reach standards that are similar to their peers.

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Grade: 1

Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is outstanding. Pupils show a high level of enjoyment for learning, which they catch from their teachers and their attendance rate is good. All pupils are exceptionally keen to do well and say that learning is always fun. Every available minute of the day sees pupils enthusiastically taking part in exciting activities and tasks. Keeping fit and eating healthily comes naturally to these pupils. Each day all pupils are involved in a ‘Boogie’ session where they engage in high quality dance or gymnastic routines, which not only promote good health but sharpen the children’s concentration and help them to be more effective learners. Pupils are exceptionally confident and friendly. They show exemplary care towards the many newcomers to their school. They are all aware that many of their friends and classmates have parents who are on active

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Grade: 1

service in war zones and they are always ready to listen or put a supportive arm around someone who is feeling sad or worried. The school council takes its role very seriously and is very proud of the impact it is having on the school, such as monitoring bullying and sorting out squabbles. Pupils show an excellent level of respect, understanding and tolerance for other religions and ways of life. 3 Inspection Report: Leconfield Primary School, 22 °23 February 2007

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Grade: 1

Outstanding teaching throughout the school, including the Foundation Stage, enables all pupils to achieve well and reach the highest standard they can. Teachers plan lessons meticulously to meet the needs of different ages, abilities and temperaments in mixed age classes. Lessons have an ethos of hard work and hum with concentration, exceptional good humour, warm relaxed relationships and high levels of challenge for all. Highly skilled teaching assistants provide excellent support to different groups, accelerating progress and managing challenging behaviour. Many different teaching styles, tasks and activities grasp pupils’ imagination and promote a love of learning. Fascinating topics such as ‘Pirates and Minotaurs’, not to mention being chased around the school by a ‘giant sunflower’ or watching a giant eye cross the stage in an assembly, provide boys and girls with interesting and stimulating ideas to promote even better

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Grade: 1

writing. New learning is modelled very effectively, using information and communication technology. Pupils are continually reminded about what they already know and are given prompts, guidelines and timed tasks to keep them focused and working hard. Regular homework extends pupils’ thinking and learning and provides good opportunities for pupils and parents to work together on challenging topics. The marking of pupils’ work is very good and provides them with clear and challenging information on how they can improve further. Regular and rigorous assessments inform teachers of the level of understanding and progress of each pupil and this is a key tool to enabling the pupils to achieve as well as they can.

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Grade: 1

The curriculum is very responsive to the needs of this unique community. It includes an exceptionally wide range of sport, music, drama, art and dance. The work challenges pupils and inspires them to learn. As a result, they demonstrate high levels of skill and flair. All pupils are treated as individuals and consequently make excellent progress and achieve their potential. Classes and groupings are flexible to meet the needs of those pupils new to the school, those with learning difficulties and disabilities and those who are gifted and talented. The excellent emphasis throughout the school on literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology is making a vital contribution to preparing pupils for their future role in society and their economic well-being. To ensure that pupils joining from other schools have continuity in their education, Leconfield offers as many sports as possible. Links with the local Performing

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Grade: 1

Arts College are excellent and are used to great effect to provide an excellent range of enrichment activities. Not only do children learn one modern foreign language but two, because this enterprising school offers French and Spanish. Even the youngest child welcomes visitors with a confident ‘Buenas Dias Senora’. An excellent programme of social and health education provides the pupils with the necessary tools to develop personal safety, care and healthy living. Pupils in Leconfield are exceptionally well 4 Inspection Report: Leconfield Primary School, 22 °23 February 2007 prepared for the next stage of their education, whether it is the local secondary college or a school in another town or city.

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Grade: 1

One of the main reasons why pupils achieve so well is the school’s outstanding level of care, guidance and support. Arrangements to safeguard pupils meet statutory requirements and are highly effective in promoting pupils’ welfare, health and safety. Parents are delighted that their children, whatever age, ability or temperament are integrated into school with remarkable ease. Starting school in Reception is a happy experience because the parents and children are already very familiar with the teachers and surroundings. Pupils moving from different schools are encouraged to visit beforehand to be introduced to the staff, pupils and routines of life in a new school. The careful use of national and school tests enables teachers to identify where there are gaps or confusions in pupils’ knowledge and understanding. Much thought goes into placing pupils in the specific groups where they will have the greatest support to

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Grade: 1

accelerate learning. Pupils with complex learning difficulties and disabilities receive an exceptionally high level of care and support. Teachers track each pupil’s academic progress carefully and set challenging targets to enable pupils to improve.

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Grade: 1

Staff attributed the success of the school to ‘the wacky, imaginative’ leadership, which enables all staff to think ‘outside the box’. How perceptive and accurate they are. This exceedingly enthusiastic headteacher, supported by a very effective governing body, manages the school with outstanding vision, creativity, sensitivity and boundless good humour and optimism, resulting in excellence in all aspects of its work. Leadership is highly successful in meeting the needs of this unique community. The headteacher’s enthusiasm and professional skills result in staff being able to use the curriculum to equip pupils to deal with the many changes they have to face in their lives. Assessments, test results, the quality of teaching and learning are all monitored rigorously to ensure that standards remain high and pupils do not underachieve. Leadership values all the staff and utilises their skills and talents to enrich pupils’ learning. Teachers new to the

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Grade: 1

school are encouraged to develop their own interests and skills and, as a result, standards in music, art and dance are very high. The school is continually looking to the future and parents’ confidence in the leadership and management of the school is very well placed. This is an outstanding school and has outstanding capacity to improve further. 5 Inspection Report: Leconfield Primary School, 22 °23 February 2007 .

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Grade: 1

set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: Leconfield Primary School, 22 °23 February 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? 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

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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. 7 Inspection Report: Leconfield Primary School, 22 °23 February 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: Leconfield Primary School, 22 °23 February 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Leconfield Primary School Arram Road Leconfield Beverley HU17 7NP 26 February 2007 Dear Pupils Thank you so much for being so very friendly and welcoming when I visited your school a short while ago. You are all very successful and enthusiastic learners who work really hard and behave well. Do you know that your work is much better than it is in most other schools? You are particularly clever at reading and mathematics. The writing you are doing is also exciting. It’s so much easier to write well when your teachers make learning such fun. Imagine being chased round the school by a giant sunflower or watching a giant magic eye cross the stage in Assembly. I especially enjoyed listening to your singing and watching your Indian and ‘Street-Jazz’ dance. In addition to all these wonderful things, you are also learning to speak not just one other language like many children do but two, Spanish and French. You should feel very proud of

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

yourselves. Keep up the good work! You have lots of new children starting at your school and I was particularly pleased to see how very kind and welcoming you are to them. You also understand so well that from time to time some of you need to be extra friendly and kind because some parents are soldiers and spend long periods of time away from home in other parts of the world. You also know how very important it is to respect people who have different religions and customs. How pleased I was to hear the chairman of the school council says that there was no ‘Mickey-taking in this school’. You are all very proud of the school council and it was good to know that members of the council help your teachers to sort out any disagreements between pupils. You all know the importance of eating a balanced diet and taking lots of exercise. You have so many different sports to take part in, including tennis! You go to an excellent school where your headteacher and teachers work so hard to make

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

lessons fun and help you learn such a lot. I hope you will continue to enjoy school as much as you do now and that it will help you to become happy and successful adults. Buenos dese Bons souhaits Yours sincerely Carole Cressey (Lead Inspector) 9 Inspection Report: Leconfield Primary School, 22 °23 February 2007

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