Wootton Community Primary School

Inspection Report Wootton Community Primary School

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118172 Unique Reference Number Isle of Wight Local Authority 291040 Inspection number 22 °23 January 2007 Inspection dates Michael Pye 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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Church Road School address Primary Type of school Wootton Bridge Community School category Ryde PO33 4PT 4 °9 Age range of pupils 01983 882505 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01983 882505 Fax number 130 Number on roll (school) Mr M Johnson Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs P East Headteacher 11 June 2002 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 291040 22 °23 January 2007 4°9 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 an Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

The school is smaller than most other primary schools. The number of pupils entitled to free school meals is broadly average, reflecting the mixed social and economic make-up of the locality. Predominantly White British, there are few pupils from ethnic minority groups and no pupils whose home language is not English. The number of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is well below average, and there are two pupils with statements of special educational need. There has been some high teacher turnover in recent times. The school has the Healthy School and Basic Skill Awards, and has been recognised as an Investors in People organisation.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Wootton Community Primary School, 22 °23 January 2007

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Grade: 2

Parents are correct in their view that this school provides a good standard of education. There is a shared vision of, and commitment to, high quality in all areas of the school's work. Consequently, pupils achieve well and attain above average academic standards whilst also benefiting from good personal development, care, support and guidance. Unsurprisingly, one parent wrote, 'My children always go to school happy and come home tired...but still happy'. Children enter the good Reception class with the knowledge and skills expected of their age. They make good progress although, upon entry to Year 1, writing is a weaker element. By the end of Year 4 pupils have continued to achieve well and attain above average standards. This is the consequence of positive pupil attitudes and good teaching. Some inconsistencies exist in the degree to which teachers challenge pupils' thinking. Pupils behave well and say they are happy at school. They speak confidently and

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Grade: 2

enthusiastically about their teachers, and the range of different activities they experience. Most like sport and visits, such as the residential stay for Year 4 pupils. They benefit from some excellent links with the community, and some outstanding initiatives designed to promote their safety. The recent changes to the good curriculum have had an important impact on pupils' motivation and their learning. One parent wrote, 'The excellent curriculum and topic work gives plenty of opportunities for families and the community to participate'. Activities such as 'Discovery Week' allow pupils to learn effectively, in a practical way, about photography and design technology. There are appropriate plans to further extend pupils' opportunities to solve problems. Such successes have resulted from good leadership and management. The very competent headteacher has helped to establish a very clear direction for the school's

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Grade: 2

development. This is firmly based upon widely agreed values, effective teamwork and the involvement of an increasing number of staff in monitoring the school. Some middle managers have insufficient knowledge and experience to fully maximise their role in evaluating the school's performance and planning for improvement. The solid improvement since the last inspection, particularly in information and communication technology, together with the increasing experience of governors and senior managers reinforces the judgement that there is a good capacity to improve this school.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Ensure that all teachers promote the higher thinking skills of pupils, particularly the more able, and encourage them to raise questions and solve problems. • Ensure that all managers have more opportunities to extend their knowledge and experience of monitoring, evaluation and development planning. 2 Inspection Report: Wootton Community Primary School, 22 °23 January 2007

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Grade: 2

Pupils achieve well and standards are above average. Children enter Reception with skills and knowledge typical for their age, although many have an insecure knowledge of how to link sounds and letters. Good teaching contributes to the children achieving well, and most meet or exceed the goals expected of them by the end of Reception. End of Year 2 teacher assessments in 2006 showed a dip in performance from the above average standards of previous years. These pupils had experienced significant changes in their teachers but still achieved average standards in reading, writing and mathematics. School analysis correctly identified the need to further challenge more able writers and mathematicians. It has introduced group work for the more able in these subjects, and there has been a whole-school focus on writing. Observations and school data indicate that there is now a return to above average standards and good

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Grade: 2

achievement across the school. Good support work by the learning support assistants contributes to pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities making good progress towards their targets.

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Grade: 2

The personal development and well-being of pupils are good, with some significant strengths. Pupils behave well, are polite and well-mannered. Above average attendance is reflected in a parent's observation that 'our son is very happy and looks forward to going in, even on Mondays!' Pupils' good personal development results not only from positive attitudes, but also from the good range of opportunities pupils have to extend their knowledge, for example, about healthy living. Their environmental knowledge is extended by the garden design project, but pupils are not yet sufficiently involved in more practical environmental projects. The school provides excellent opportunities for pupils to learn about staying safe, including 'kerb-craft' and road safety. Good attention to detail is evident when the school arranged for parents and pupils to be made aware, in a practical way, about new in-car, child safety seat rules. The community

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Grade: 2

support for such messages is just one example of the how some outstanding community links benefit pupils in a very practical way. This small school has developed very good links with local schools and churches, the local business community, and pupils have been actively involved in campaigning for the development of a village square. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural education of pupils is good. Particularly effective are the good opportunities for pupils to reflect and imagine the feelings of others, such as when role-playing evacuee children during the Second World War. Pupils are well prepared for their future as a result of good activities, such as when they consider costs and profit when selling cakes. 3 Inspection Report: Wootton Community Primary School, 22 °23 January 2007

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Grade: 2

Consistent monitoring helps to deliver good levels of teaching and learning. Teachers plan well and, consequently, lessons are well organised, time is used well and pupils benefit from a good mix of activities. Pupils know what they have to do, are quickly on task and make good use of some well-prepared resources. Effective pupil management skills contribute to good relationships and pupils are eager to get involved. They know and react well to the teachers' high expectations of conduct and work, and benefit from some good marking. Whilst teachers are now promoting different ways to learn through the 'thinking hats' approach, there are some inconsistencies in the quality of challenge in some lessons. Pupils, particularly the more able, have insufficient opportunities to raise questions themselves, and answer more challenging questions.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum has recently been reviewed and is good. Its strength lies in meeting the different learning styles of pupils. Topic work on Russia, for example, involved pupils in practical role-play about flying, writing their own folk story, designing Russian dolls and a science investigation about how to stay warm. Parents praise the opportunities they have to work alongside their children. The successful 'Chinese Week' bears witness to the great impact of this, with families designing and making their own dragons. The school hall is bedecked with a colourful and impressive display of three dimensional figures. Additionally, the curriculum uses the locality well. Pupils visit the old village school and role-play the feelings and experience of being evacuated and given a 'new' family during wartime. They speak of it movingly. To meet the needs of the more able the school has introduced more opportunities for problem-solving

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Grade: 2

and investigating, but it realises the need to further develop these strategies.

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Grade: 2

Care, guidance and support are good. The school knows its pupils well and is proactive in identifying their needs. It has a good range of support systems to meet both the academic and pastoral needs of pupils. Pupils say they feel safe and secure. They know the adults are there to help them, and are prepared to approach them with any problems. In this supportive environment pupils are able to concentrate on their work and their personal and academic development is well encouraged. One parent accurately observed that, 'my son is thriving in the environment provided, and there is a great family atmosphere'. Care does not stop at the school gate. A wide range of external agencies are used well to support pupils and their families. Pupils' safety is further reinforced by effective child protection and health and safety procedures. 4 Inspection Report: Wootton Community Primary School, 22 °23 January 2007

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Grade: 2

Pupils have appropriate literacy and numeracy targets. Not all know them because of inconsistencies in the extent to which targets are referred to during lessons. Some parents are correct in their view that the personal targets for pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities could be more 'pupil-friendly'.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good. The relatively new headteacher and her deputy have set a clear vision for the school and have effectively shared this with a wide range of people. Staff work as a team, and are successful in fulfilling the school's vision of pupils learning effectively in a 'challenging, secure and happy environment'. The school is not complacent and there is a realistic and well researched plan for whole school development. Monitoring and evaluation systems are embedded. One immediate area of impact has been in the recent development of a tracking system which enables the school to identify more effectively those pupils requiring additional support. The self-evaluation of the school is generally accurate, although in some areas such as personal development and well-being the school underestimates the impact of its actions. Good leadership has been effective in extending management opportunities for staff.

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Grade: 2

These managers are now more involved in work-scrutiny, evaluating the performance of their areas, and planning new initiatives. One result in literacy has been an emphasis on improving pupils' understanding of what is high quality work through drafting and correcting written work. More able writers are inspired to use a wider range of vocabulary through their experience of being in a 'snow cave'. However not all managers have sufficient knowledge and experience to fully maximise their roles. Governors give good support to the school. They are successfully building a more detailed knowledge of the school through regular visits, more training, and participating in research projects such as their involvement in the recent homework survey. 5 Inspection Report: Wootton Community Primary School, 22 °23 January 2007 .

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Grade: 2

set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: Wootton Community Primary School, 22 °23 January 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? 2 The quality and standards in the Foundation Stage 3 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 2 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

2 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 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The behaviour of learners 2 The attendance of learners 2 How well learners enjoy their education 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 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?

2 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: Wootton Community Primary School, 22 °23 January 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: Wootton Community Primary School, 22 °23 January 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

You might remember my visit to your school. I enjoyed talking to you and listening to your views, and I was very happy to learn how happy you are at school. Thank you. I agree with you that your school is good. There are some things that your school really does well: • you told me that you learn well because the school gives you a good variety of activities to do, such as the theme days and weeks. Your parents told me that they enjoyed the chance to work with you when you made Chinese dragons. You all did very well and your good work brightens up the hall. Parents, take a bow! • you make better progress than many pupils in other schools because you are keen to learn and you receive good teaching. Most of you are better at English, mathematics and science than pupils in many other schools • you are very closely involved with the local village and I liked your letters about the village square • the school is very good at making sure that you know how to stay safe. You told me how

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

you feel it succeeds in doing this and that you feel very well cared for • children in Reception do well because the school makes sure that they know you and your families well. You get a good start to your schooling • the school is well led by your headteacher, her deputy, and the governors. All staff are working to improve things even more. I have asked your school to ensure that: • in all lessons you are challenged to really think hard. You could help your teachers by telling them when you find the work too easy • some adults who are in charge of your learning get more experience so they can do the job even better. I wish you all the best for the future. Yours sincerely, Michael Pye Lead Inspector 9 Inspection Report: Wootton Community Primary School, 22 °23 January 2007

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