Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School

Inspection Report Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School

p.1

117974 Unique Reference Number East Riding of Yorkshire Local Authority 290984 Inspection number 16 November 2006 Inspection date Eric Jackson Reporting inspector

p.1

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

p.1

St John's Road School address Infant Type of school Driffield Voluntary controlled School category YO25 6RS 4 °7 Age range of pupils 01377 253094 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01377 272229 Fax number 224 Number on roll (school) Mrs Elizabeth Gooch Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Janet Spencer Headteacher 1 October 2002 Date of previous school inspection

p.1

Inspection number Inspection date Age group 290984 16 November 2006 4 °7 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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 one Additional Inspector.

p.3

Description of the school

Driffield Church of England Infant is a large school for its type. Pupils attend from a wide area. Almost all the pupils are White British, with very small numbers of pupils of White European, minority ethnic and mixed heritage. Pupils’ attainment at entry is broadly average, as are socio-economic conditions locally. Smaller numbers of pupils than are usual in a school this size are identified as having learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The school has achieved a number of national awards, including the Silver Artsmark, Healthy School and Investors in People status.

p.3

Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, 16 November 2006

p.3

Grade: 1

Driffield Church of England Infant is an excellent school, better than its own cautious self-evaluation suggests. Pupils’ academic achievement and personal development are outstanding, as are the staff’s care, guidance and support for them. The atmosphere for learning created by the staff is highly effective in encouraging pupils really to enjoy what they do, and to make very good progress. This leads to well above average standards in reading and mathematics and good standards in writing in Year 2 national tests. Children in the Reception classes make good and sometimes excellent progress, and achieve above expected levels by the time they enter Year 1. Pupils also achieve very well in other subjects such as science, art and design, music and dance. One parent summarised many parents’ views in writing, ‘The standards of education, behaviour and the premises are all excellent. My child loves school and is very, very happy!’

p.4

Grade: 1

The quality of teaching is always good and often excellent. It is based directly on children’s needs through detailed planning, providing a rich and varied diet for learning from Reception to Year 2. The pupils learn well how to be safe and lead healthy lifestyles. The indoor and outdoor learning areas have been improved further since the last inspection, so that they provide even more stimulating and exciting opportunities to learn and play. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD) are fully included and make good, and sometimes very good, progress, as do those who are learning English as an additional language. Able, gifted or talented pupils are also challenged effectively to reach high levels. Pupils’ personal development is excellent, founded in strong working relationships and attitudes at all levels in the school. Pupils behave very well, and show active pleasure in the interesting and challenging activities planned by the staff. For example,

p.4

Grade: 1

walking through the indoor play area on a wet morning risked being surrounded by small, growling, costumed ‘bears’, fully in role and having the time of their lives. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. Year 2 pupils make a valuable contribution to the school and wider community, and are well prepared to continue their education in junior school. ‘We have an excellent headteacher who knows all the children and cares for them as if they were her own.’ This parental comment typifies many. The headteacher leads the school with energetic confidence, motivating and inspiring staff, pupils, governors and parents. Other senior teachers complement her skills superbly so that leadership and management focus the school’s work directly on the pupils’ well-being and achievement. The rest of the staff, including support, administrative and other staff contribute well to the high quality of educational provision, overseen well by governors.

p.4

Grade: 1

The school gives excellent value for money, and is very well placed to continue to improve.

p.4

What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards in writing by encouraging pupils to write regularly and often, using more of their own ideas. 2 Inspection Report: Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, 16 November 2006

p.4

Grade: 1

Pupils’ achievement is excellent and standards are above average. Children make a very good start in Reception, and quickly learn the well-organised routines. All the children make good progress so that most have achieved, and some are working beyond, the expected levels when they move to Year 1. New outdoor facilities have improved opportunities for outdoor learning for all children in Reception, including for physical development. Pupils’ good and often very good progress builds well on Reception achievement in Years 1 and 2. High standards in reading by the end of Year 2 have been a strength for some years. Mathematics test results were also significantly above average in 2005 and 2006. Standards in writing have varied, and fell from significantly above average levels in 2005 to above average in 2006. Girls achieve higher levels than boys, but boys and girls outperform boys and girls nationally. A real strength of the

p.5

Grade: 1

school is pupils’ high achievement across the curriculum. For example, Year 2 pupils used well-developed historical understanding thoughtfully to decide which of a wide range of communication opportunities would have been available in 1666 to report the Great Fire of London.

p.5

Grade: 1

Pupils’ personal development is excellent, as is their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Their well-being is the very centre of the school’s Christian mission. Pupils add to the great atmosphere set by the staff with their good attendance, smiling friendliness and lively but very good behaviour. Children in Reception make very good progress in managing themselves and developing their social skills. The school has welcomed the national focus on helping pupils to be safe and develop healthy lifestyles, earning the Healthy School Award and the Heartbeat Award for school meals. It is also working towards ‘ECO’ school status, and the pupils are aware of their important role in caring for the environment. Older pupils have a range of jobs that help them contribute well to the community, including as School Councillors. The school has achieved the Basic Skills Quality Mark three times, and pupils are well prepared for

p.5

Grade: 1

A parent wrote, ‘I feel that my child has gone from Reception to University in three years at this school.’ Many other parents agree that the staff help their children learn extremely well, exceeding their expectations. Underpinning this very good learning are thorough and specific curricular and lesson plans. These are translated into enjoyable but challenging activities for the pupils. The strength of the working 3 Inspection Report: Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, 16 November 2006 relationships between staff, between them and the pupils, and among the pupils allows lessons to flow like a river of progress. There is a sense of controlled excitement throughout the day, in class and in the playground. The teaching of English and mathematics is very good, and innovative practices are being adopted to improve boys’ writing in collaboration with other local schools. This is timely as, while good, it was

p.5

Grade: 1

the weakest aspect of performance in the 2006 tests.

p.6

Grade: 1

The school provides an excellent and very exciting curriculum from Reception to Year 2. There is a strong focus on personal development and learning core skills in reading, writing and mathematics. The wider curriculum is also rich and varied, with learning carefully planned in themes to help pupils to connect their developing ideas through information and communication technology, art and design, music, and other subjects. Teachers understand that learning through play and practical activities are very important for younger pupils, and they organise tasks to promote an investigative approach to finding out. This is based in a very good understanding of what the pupils need to do next to improve. Parents also commented on the value of the provision for extra clubs such as French, and activities such as gym after school, and how this extends their children’s quality of education.

p.6

Grade: 1

Care, guidance and support are excellent. Reception children are very well supported when they first join the school and parents comment on how quickly they are settled. The whole staff work together to look after the pupils and procedures to safeguard pupils are in place. Support staff ensure that pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities make good progress towards their individual targets. Those few pupils learning English as an additional language are well supported to make good progress. Indeed, a member of the support staff has recently attended extra training to equip her to help these pupils further. Systems for keeping an overview of pupils’ progress are very good, covering all aspects of their learning. The school’s business manager has prepared a database that records this information so that it is easily accessible for staff to influence their planning of the next steps in pupils’ learning.

p.6

Grade: 1

Leadership and management are excellent. A parent wrote, ‘The school is a lovely place which makes learning fun and every child is made to feel special.’ The inspection confirms this view. Central to this success are the staff, led very competently by the headteacher. She is an excellent leader who keeps staff, governors and parents very-well informed, setting high expectations for everyone’s work. Other senior staff also have a strong influence on the high quality of the school’s provision. The excellent 4 Inspection Report: Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, 16 November 2006 atmosphere for learning generated by the staff is recognised and welcomed by the good governing body, which is closely involved in monitoring the school’s work. The school’s self-evaluation is very good and leads to an agenda for improvement that is specific and accurate, and one with which the inspector agrees. Improvement since

p.6

Grade: 1

the last inspection has been excellent, including major improvements in standards and to the indoor and outdoor environments. The headteacher encourages very good developmental links with other schools and institutions. For example, the local council has adopted the pupils’ ‘Robbie the Robot’ model as its recycling logo. 5 Inspection Report: Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, 16 November 2006 .

p.7

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: Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, 16 November 2006

p.8

Inspection judgements

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

p.9

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

p.9

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.9

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

p.9

and interests of learners?

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

p.9

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: Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, 16 November 2006

p.9

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: Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, 16 November 2006

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School St John's Road Driffield YO25 6RS 20 November 2006 Dear Children Thank you for looking after me when I visited you last week. I enjoyed myself, but it’s the first time I have nearly been attacked by growling bears in a school! You will remember that my job is to check how well your school looks after you and helps you to learn. I think that you are very lucky children to have such a good school, and I know that you and your parents think the same. The staff care for you really well, and make sure that there is always someone to help you if you need it. They help you to learn to read, write and do mathematics very well, and they also give you lots of chances to paint, dance, play, bake, speak French, sing, and make models……………. You help the staff by behaving very well and trying hard with your work. You also know how to be safe and healthy, and I think your ‘ECO' club is great ° those plants

p.11

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

should look good when they grow, and it is for a good cause. I have asked the staff to let you write more about things you want to write about, using your own ideas, to help you improve your stories and written work. From all the good ideas you shared with me, I’m sure you will do this well. Thank you again, and I hope you enjoy a lovely time at Christmas. Mr Jackson (Lead Inspector) 9 Inspection Report: Driffield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, 16 November 2006

p.11