Plaxtol Primary School

Inspection Report Plaxtol Primary School

p.1

118309 Unique Reference Number Kent Local Authority 291087 Inspection number 8 December 2006 Inspection date Joan Lindsay Reporting inspector

p.1

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

p.1

School Lane School address Primary Type of school Plaxtol Community School category Sevenoaks TN15 0QD 4 °11 Age range of pupils 01732 810200 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01732 811 354 Fax number 104 Number on roll (school) Stephen Hemstead Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Janice Hovey Headteacher 20 May 2002 Date of previous school inspection

p.1

Inspection number Inspection date Age group 291087 8 December 2006 4 °11 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 two Additional Inspectors

p.3

Description of the school

Plaxtol Primary School is a small school situated in a village between Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. Most pupils come from the financially advantaged local area. All the pupils are from White British heritage families. Very few pupils are eligible for free school meals and all pupils have English as their first language. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities is below the national average and there are no pupils who have statements of special educational needs. The school has a relatively high turnover of pupils, although the turnover in the last year is lower than in the past

p.3

Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Plaxtol Primary School, 8 December 2006

p.3

Grade: 3

This is a satisfactory school. Standards are above the national average and pupils make satisfactory progress in a warm and caring environment. Children who come in to the Foundation Stage receive a satisfactory education. Children enter the school with above average standards, although there are some variations from year to year. Although the impact of small groups of pupils can make results fluctuate one way or the other,in the national tests standards declined between 2003 and 2005 and there was significant underachievement in 2005. This decline has been arrested as a result of more focused teaching in Year 6, and in 2006 tests results were above average. Achievement is now satisfactory. Through its analysis of test results, the school has identified writing to be an area of relative weakness. Recent initiatives to improve writing, for example through changes to the curriculum, have not yet been adopted across the school and so have not had time to impact on

p.4

Grade: 3

standards. Pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities make satisfactory progress as they move through the school. This is the result of more focused support since the appointment of the current special educational needs coordinator. Teaching is satisfactory, with strengths seen in the often lively delivery and the good use of teaching assistants. However, teachers are not yet using assessment effectively enough to identify and address pockets of underachievement or to set suitably challenging targets for individual pupils to ensure that all achieve as well as they can. The curriculum, though satisfactory overall, does not have an adequate focus on writing across different subjects. Pupils' personal development is good. Pupils behave well. They really enjoy coming to school. The high levels of pastoral care and support promote the strong feeling of security that even the youngest children have. This is reflected in the positive comments

p.4

Grade: 3

made by parents about the nurturing, family atmosphere. Pupils' experiences are enhanced by a good range of extracurricular clubs and a residential visit. The school works well with others such as the local nursery, parents and external agencies to promote pupils' well-being. Leadership and management are satisfactory. Self-evaluation procedures are sound and the headteacher, along with the chair of governors, has identified key priorities for development. However, some of the initiatives, such as the consistent use of tracking and assessment data to ensure all pupils are guided and supported to achieve as well as they can, are relatively new. The headteacher and subject leaders monitor teaching and learning, but the effectiveness of this monitoring is reduced because the outcomes and subsequent actions are not always formally recorded. There have been several improvements to the accommodation, identified as a weakness at the last

p.4

Grade: 3

inspection, and these have had a positive impact on some standards, particularly in science, as pupils now have more space for practical activities. With its stronger focus now on raising standards, the school has sound capacity to make the necessary improvements. The school provides satisfactory value for money. 2 Inspection Report: Plaxtol Primary School, 8 December 2006

p.4

What the school should do to improve further

• improve standards in writing across the school by improving the curriculum so that pupils have more opportunities to develop writing skills in all subjects • ensure consistency in the use of tracking and assessment information to identify and address any underachievement • set appropriately challenging targets for individual pupils so that all pupils achieve as well as they can • ensure monitoring and evaluation of teaching and learning are more robust by formally recording outcomes and subsequent actions.

p.5

Grade: 3

Achievements and standards are satisfactory. Children come into the Foundation Stage with above average standards and make satisfactory progress in all the areas of learning. Their personal, social and emotional development is enhanced through working and socialising with older pupils. They are encouraged to be independent, for example through self-registration at the start of the day. Satisfactory progress continues in Year 1 and Year 2 so that at the end of the two years, pupils reach above average standards overall. In 2006, results improved in reading, mathematics and science. Writing remains the weakest area. From Year 3 to Year 6, standards have been declining steadily since 2003. In 2005, there was significant underachievement among a number of groups of pupils. In 2006, the pupils' performance in the tests showed a marked improvement particularly in English, although the relative weakness in writing remained.

p.5

Grade: 3

Mathematics and science results also improved and the school exceeded most of its targets. The school's systems to check and track pupils' progress are not yet sufficiently robust to identify whether or not different groups of pupils have achieved as well as they should.

p.5

Grade: 2

Pupils' personal development and well-being are good. Attendance is satisfactory, with the 2006 figures showing some improvement. Pupils really love coming to this school. When asked if they liked school, pupils said 'no, we love it!' and could think of very little they wanted to change. This great enjoyment, combined with good behaviour, contributes well to their progress. Older pupils set an exemplary example in the way they care for younger ones and everyone is very sociable. Pupils also have a great deal of trust in adults and so they feel safe in school. They understand what it is to live healthy lives in relation to exercise and food. They enjoy a wide range of sports clubs (the school has the Active Mark and Football Association Charter Mark awards) and are very enthusiastic about their healthy lunches. The school is very much part of the local community, which benefits pupils as they make use of the village and

p.5

Grade: 2

come to understand the needs of others by acts such as delivering Harvest goods. Pupils develop satisfactory skills to prepare them for the next stage in their education, 3 Inspection Report: Plaxtol Primary School, 8 December 2006 particularly as they learn key skills and how to work together productively. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is satisfactory overall. Pupils learn about other religions in lessons but there are limited opportunities to develop their understanding of other cultures in this predominantly white area; as there are limited opportunities to extend their understanding of other cultures, their appreciation of today's multicultural society is not well developed.

p.5

Grade: 3

The quality of teaching and learning throughout the school is satisfactory, so that pupils make sound progress in their work. Teachers' planning for lessons is also satisfactory. The use of interactive whiteboards in classrooms is beginning to have a positive impact through engaging pupils in learning. Teaching assistants make a good contribution to the progress of pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities. Much teaching is lively and engages pupils' interest well. Where teaching is most effective, teachers set pupils tasks which are well matched to their previous attainment. Arrangements to track pupils' progress are being developed, but teachers' use of the assessment data is not consistent so the impact on pupils' achievement is not fully realised. Teachers' assessments of pupils' written work are satisfactory, but are not sufficiently aimed at helping them to understand the next steps in their learning and

p.6

Grade: 3

how they might achieve more. For example, marking does not always indicate how pupils can improve their work.

p.6

Grade: 3

The curriculum is satisfactory, and is adequately broad and balanced. At the Foundation Stage, there is a good balance between activities led by the teacher and those which pupils initiate. Overall, the school has had a sufficient focus on the development of pupils' numeracy and reading, but there has not been sufficient attention to the development of their writing skills. Lessons in personal, social and health education make a satisfactory contribution to pupils' awareness of issues of safety and health, and foster their self-esteem. Occasions such as 'science week' and 'book week' help to enrich pupils' experience. Pupils take part in a range of visits in support of the curriculum. New facilities such as interactive whiteboards and the improved library facilities have broadened pupils' opportunities for learning. A good range of extra-curricular activities is provided, and participation rates are high, which adds

p.6

Grade: 3

considerably to pupils' enjoyment of school. 4 Inspection Report: Plaxtol Primary School, 8 December 2006

p.6

Grade: 3

The school offers effective care and pastoral support through the very good relationships between school staff and pupils. These have a positive impact on the pupils' personal development. Parents believe that their children are well cared for when at school. Arrangements to assess risks and to provide first aid are satisfactory. Procedures to ensure child protection through checks on adults who work in the school and through arrangements to identify any vulnerable pupils are satisfactory. The academic guidance and support that pupils receive is satisfactory. The school sets targets in English and mathematics for groups of pupils, but the use of target-setting for individual pupils to guide their learning is not yet well established. Pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities are effectively helped through additional support in classrooms.

p.7

Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. After a period where standards and achievement were in decline, the school now has appropriate systems to identify the key areas for improvement Teaching and learning are now routinely monitored by curriculum coordinators and the headteacher, although the effectiveness of the monitoring is somewhat reduced because not all monitoring visits are formally recorded. A more rigorous analysis of test data has identified writing as an area of relative weakness. Some of the initiatives to address this issue are new and have not yet had an impact on results. In addition, tracking and assessment systems are just beginning to be used more effectively to plan to enable all pupils to achieve as well as they should, although the use of these systems is not consistent across the school. The governing body is well led by a chair of governors who has a clear understanding of

p.7

Grade: 3

the school's strengths and weaknesses, particularly in relation to pupils' achievements. Governors challenge the school appropriately and have taken measures to fulfill all their statutory duties. 5 Inspection Report: Plaxtol Primary School, 8 December 2006 .

p.7

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: Plaxtol Primary School, 8 December 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? 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

p.9

Achievement and standards

3 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 3 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

p.9

learners?

3 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The behaviour of learners 3 The attendance of learners 1 How well learners enjoy their education 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 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?

3 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: Plaxtol Primary School, 8 December 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: Plaxtol Primary School, 8 December 2006

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Thank you very much for being so welcoming and helpful when we visited your school. We enjoyed seeing what you do in lessons and talking to you at lunchtime. We would like to share with you what we thought about your school. Your school provides you with a sound education and you make satisfactory progress. You all seem to love coming to school and get on very well with each other. It was good to see how well older pupils look after the younger ones. You behave well. The staff care for you well, so that you feel safe in school. You understand all about keeping fit and eating healthy food. This is helped by all your after-school clubs. The headteacher, staff and governors give a satisfactory lead to the school and are working together to ensure you are prepared well for your future. We think that your school could be even better if you had more chances to practise writing about all sorts of different subjects.

p.11

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

We also feel that the school needs to keep better records of your lessons and make more use of the information the teachers have about how well you are doing to ensure that all of you achieve really well. We have asked everyone involved in the school to try to make sure that these things happen. 9 Inspection Report: Plaxtol Primary School, 8 December 2006

p.11