Parkside Community Foundation Primary School

Inspection Report Parkside Community Primary School

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118536 Unique Reference Number Kent Local Authority 291160 Inspection number 4 °5 October 2006 Inspection dates Nigel Pett 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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Tennyson Avenue School address Primary Type of school Canterbury Community School category CT1 1EP 3 °11 Age range of pupils 01227 464956 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01227 457908 Fax number 156 Number on roll (school) B Letchford Chair The governing body Appropriate authority I Nierzwicka Headteacher 3 March 2003 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 291160 4 °5 October 2006 3°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

This is a smaller than average sized primary school. A large number of pupils experience social and economic disadvantage, and the percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals is well above average. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties is well above average, as is the number of pupils who leave and join the school during each year. Most pupils are of White British heritage, with a significant minority of pupils who are members of the traveller community and a small number who are looked after by the local authority.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Parkside Community Primary School, 4 °5 October 2006

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Grade: 3

This is a satisfactory school which works in very challenging social conditions. Its effectiveness is improving through the enthusiasm of the headteacher, seen by many as a breath of fresh air! The clear direction she has set since her appointment a year ago is motivating staff and pupils very well. After the last inspection the overall provision declined but the school is now on an upward path and improvement since that inspection is satisfactory. Leadership and management are satisfactory. The leadership team is strong. Although the capacity for improvement is judged as being satisfactory it has the potential to become good because the team is extending the roles of all staff and governors in the effective procedures for monitoring and evaluation they have put in place. It is also beginning to make use of the views of parents and pupils. This is leading to everyone gaining a clear understanding of the school's

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Grade: 3

strengths and weaknesses and what needs to be done to raise standards. This good work, which is well supported by the local authority, is beginning to raise pupils' achievement, which is satisfactory. Many pupils enter the school with weak communication, personal and social skills. Children in the Nursery and Reception class (Foundation Stage) make satisfactory progress and pupils in other classes make steady progress from their starting points. However, standards in literacy and mathematics are below average. Teaching and learning are satisfactory and the assessment procedures are becoming more effective in tracking pupils' progress to improve planning so that work set meets the specific needs of the many differing groups of pupils. This is no easy task as a large number of pupils start at the school at varying times of the year and some only stay for short periods of time. Attendance is unsatisfactory and

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Grade: 3

not enough parents are helping their children to gain from the opportunities provided. The curriculum is satisfactory overall, with good enrichment activities, much enjoyed by the pupils. Pupils' personal development and well-being are satisfactory although the school does well in helping pupils to cope with the many personal difficulties they experience. Pupils generally enjoy school but, whilst many are friendly and polite, the behaviour of some pupils occasionally disrupts school life.

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What the school should do to improve further

• The school should: • raise pupils' achievement and standards in literacy and numeracy by the consistent inclusion of basic skills in all lessons • ensure that assessment data is used consistently by teachers to plan work that meets pupils' many different needs to improve their progress • ensure that the procedures for behaviour management and the raising of attendance are consistently applied, and especially to encourage the further involvement of parents and carers who do not send their children to school regularly. 2 Inspection Report: Parkside Community Primary School, 4 °5 October 2006

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Grade: 3

Pupils' achievement is satisfactory and improving. Across all year groups, pupils' progress is inhibited by weak language and literacy skills and by the lack of continuity that many experience in their education. In the Foundation Stage, attainment on entry in the Nursery is low and children make sound progress. By the end of the Reception class, where progress is satisfactory, they do not reach the expected standards for their age in all areas of learning. Teacher assessments at the end of Year 2 in 2005 and 2006 show below average standards although pupils made satisfactory progress. The national test results at the end of Year 6 in 2005 were below the national average in English, mathematics and science but pupils did better than expected. Provisional results for the very small number of pupils who took the tests in 2006 show similar standards and targets were met. Pupils who had been in the school throughout their

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Grade: 3

schooling did as well as expected but those who had not had the continuity did not do as well. Pupils' progress across Years 1 to 6 is satisfactory. It is improving, as the quality of teaching and learning is now addressing pupils' differing needs more rigorously, although standards in literacy remain below average. Satisfactory progress is made amongst the many differing groups of pupils present, including the many identified with learning difficulties, looked after children and the those from the traveller community. The achievement of the minorities of gifted and talented pupils is satisfactory. The school knows it needs to improve pupils' progress and achievement still further and the whole school achievement targets for 2007 are challenging.

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Grade: 3

Pupils' personal development and well-being, as well as their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, are satisfactory. They make sound progress in developing their personal qualities especially as many experience frequent changes in their lives. They enjoy school and say, 'I can't choose best things because so many things are good especially the teachers ° everybody is welcoming.' Behaviour is satisfactory but not all pupils behave well and this leads to some being excluded. In most lessons pupils show good attitudes towards their work but some have difficulty in maintaining good relationships. Attendance is unsatisfactory. Pupils make a sound contribution to their own community through the school council and have raised funds for the local community. They have a good understanding of what makes a healthy lifestyle, especially in their good response in taking the well cooked lunches. Their knowledge

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Grade: 3

and understanding of how to be safe is satisfactory. Because of their weaknesses in basic literacy and numeracy, they have only satisfactory skills for their economic well-being. 3 Inspection Report: Parkside Community Primary School, 4 °5 October 2006

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are satisfactory and effective monitoring and support is improving the provision. Behaviour in class is improving where teachers are making good use of the code for behaviour management and this is helping pupils to concentrate on their learning tasks. Pupils respond well to praise and this boosts their confidence very well so that they bring their ideas to their learning. Teachers' marking informs pupils on how well they are doing and this is helping pupils to know what they must do to improve although they are not yet sufficiently involved in assessing their own learning. The assessment of pupils' work is being well recorded but the information is not yet used consistently enough to plan work that is always matched to the pupils' needs. Pupils' learning is hindered by their weak language skills but where teachers reinforce pupils' understanding of vocabulary and encourage them to develop their

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Grade: 3

answers, they make good progress. Pupils do not have enough hands-on opportunities with work that is set in their everyday experience. They make good progress and enjoy their learning where teachers use a good range of stimulating tasks, as in a Year 1 numeracy lesson. Teaching assistants generally work very well in supporting the wide variety of pupils with learning difficulties.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum is satisfactory. Links between subjects are satisfactory and need to be further developed to help pupils develop their literacy skills and to support their learning. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) is satisfactory. Enrichment is good. The arts and creative subjects, such as music and art, are well used to raise pupils' self-esteem and to address the important need to widen their cultural awareness Visits to places of interest, especially the nature of the city and its cathedral, are used well and visitors to school are well chosen. These activities further develop pupils' skills and their enjoyment of learning. There is a strong emphasis on developing pupils' understanding of citizenship and their personal development in personal and social education lessons.

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Grade: 3

The quality of care, guidance and support is satisfactory. Pupils of all ages and from the many different groups are given sound support so that they all make similar progress in their learning. The close tracking of their progress has been firmly established, resulting in pupils' improved achievement. The support for pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is effective, as their needs are quickly identified. Pupils are very well supported in their personal development. Parents and carers appreciate how well their children are looked after and emphasised their improved 4 Inspection Report: Parkside Community Primary School, 4 °5 October 2006 progress, particularly in their social skills, although they still have some concerns regarding behaviour. The new system of rewards and punishments is helping pupils to understand how they must behave. The good links with outside agencies have resulted in pupils having more positive attitudes during lessons and a fall in the number

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Grade: 3

of exclusions. However, the efforts to raise attendance have not been successful enough and some parents do not ensure that their children attend regularly.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. The headteacher leads and manages very well and the high expectations she has set in her first year in post are being well met by staff and pupils. Her evaluation is accurate, and the very clear direction she has given is being sensibly implemented through an effective improvement plan which is beginning to raise pupils' achievement and standards through the improved quality of teaching and learning. This work is being helped through the very good partnership with the deputy headteacher, and the vision for the school is shared and very well supported by the senior leadership team. However, the overall capacity for improvement is satisfactory, as the roles of other staff and governors in monitoring and evaluating all aspects of the school's work need development, although recent progress in this work indicates that the capacity has the potential to become good. Staff feel valued

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Grade: 3

and involved and this process has regained the momentum for school improvement. Governors now understand the school's strengths and weaknesses and are being very supportive as they challenge the school with increasing confidence. 5 Inspection Report: Parkside Community Primary School, 4 °5 October 2006 .

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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: Parkside Community Primary School, 4 °5 October 2006

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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 2 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 4 The attendance of learners 2 How well learners enjoy their education 3 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 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: Parkside Community Primary School, 4 °5 October 2006

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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: Parkside Community Primary School, 4 °5 October 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Thank you for welcoming us when we came to inspect your school, and for being polite and courteous when we talked with you. Your school provides you with a satisfactory education and has a number of important good aspects. Like you, we could see that your school is improving and that the standards you reach in your work are getting better because you are making better progress. Other good things about your school, some of which you told us about, are that: • your headteacher, the staff and governors are working well together to help you to improve and to give you the best opportunities • you enjoy school and you understand what you should do to be healthy • your school works very hard and successfully to help all of you when you have problems, and especially those of you who have to move home and change schools. We have asked your school to: • help you do even better in your work and improve your standards in English and in

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

mathematics • make sure that your teachers and support staff use what they know about how well you are doing to plan work that helps all of you in each class to make the best progress through better teaching and learning • help those of you who have problems to improve your behaviour and attendance • work closely with your parents and carers to help you to behave well and see that you come to school regularly. 9 Inspection Report: Parkside Community Primary School, 4 °5 October 2006

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