St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School

Inspection Report St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School

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119495 Unique Reference Number Lancashire Local Authority 291439 Inspection number 30 November °1 December 2006 Inspection dates Jennie Platt 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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Mill Lane School address Primary Type of school Up Holland, Skelmersdale Voluntary aided School category Lancashire, WN8 0HH 3 °11 Age range of pupils 01695 622970 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01695 622970 Fax number 172 Number on roll (school) The Venerable Peter Bradley Chair The governing body Appropriate authority

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Mrs Zoe Turner Headteacher 1 January 2002 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 291439 30 November °1 December 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. Inspection Report: St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, 30 November °1 December

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is an average size school, although the number on roll has fallen over recent years. The decline in numbers means the nursery is only open in the morning, providing education for 18 children. A slightly higher than average number of pupils is entitled to a free school meal. Most of the pupils come from the immediate locality and are from White British backgrounds. The number of pupils assessed as having learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average. The school has experienced four terms without a permanent headteacher. There have been three associate headteachers and the current headteacher has been in school for one term. A new headteacher has been appointed and will take up the post shortly.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, 30 November °1 December 2006

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Grade: 3

This is a satisfactory school with some good features. Personal development is a strength and pupils enjoy school, care for each other and attend regularly. One pupil said, ‘Pupils have good manners here and if someone falls out help always comes.’ Safeguarding procedures are in place and pupils know how to keep safe and healthy. Staff have high expectations of behaviour which is good. Pupils take responsibility well by reliably carrying out small duties in school and raising funds for charities in the local and wider community. Handwriting in the school is very good and exemplifies pupils’ good attitudes to work. They confidently work independently and with their secure basic skills this prepares them well for life ahead. Pupils’ achievement is satisfactory. Children in the Foundation Stage make good progress, due mainly to a stimulating curriculum and good teaching. From a starting point typical of many pupils of their ages many reach, and a good number exceed, the

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Grade: 3

level expected by the end of the Reception year. Good progress in Key Stage 1 is maintained by challenging teaching. The national assessments for seven-year-olds show standards are above average. Although overall progress in Key Stage 2 is satisfactory, it is not consistent between years because of variability in the quality of teaching. National test results for 11-year-olds show standards are broadly average, with the vast majority reaching the level expected for their age. However, over several years girls have not achieved as well as boys in mathematics. Higher attaining pupils generally do well except in writing, where they do not write with sufficient flair to achieve a high standard. Teaching and learning and the curriculum are satisfactory. Teaching is good in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 because it is varied and sustains an excitement in learning. This tails off in Key Stage 2 because teaching lacks similar enthusiasm and

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Grade: 3

pace. Pupils start to lose interest in some lessons because their work is not challenging enough. Limited resources for information and communication technology (ICT) mean that pupils have insufficient opportunity to practise their skills. The curriculum is strengthened by a wide range of visits and visitors which enhances pupils’ learning. The leadership and management of the school are satisfactory. The associate headteachers, supported by staff and governors, have sustained the smooth running of the school but some important changes have not been put in place, slowing the satisfactory improvement since the last inspection. The role of subject leaders continues to be underdeveloped and assessment information is not used well enough to help pupils make better progress and raise standards. The school provides sound value for money. With a permanent headteacher now appointed, it has satisfactory capacity to

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What the school should do to improve further

• Make teaching and the curriculum more stimulating in Key Stage 2 in order to raise standards, especially for girls in mathematics and for higher attaining pupils in writing. 2 Inspection Report: St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, 30 November °1 December 2006 • Make better use of assessment information to monitor pupils’ progress and to share with them more effectively how they can improve. • Provide more opportunities for pupils to extend their ICT skills. • Ensure that subject leaders focus on raising quality and standards in their areas of responsibility.

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Grade: 3

Pupils’ achievement is satisfactory. From a starting point typical of their age, children make good progress in all areas of learning in the Foundation Stage. The majority reach and an increasing number exceed, the goals expected of them by the end of the stage. They develop independence and self-confidence effectively, which are useful assets for their future learning. Good progress in Key Stage 1 is reflected in pupils’ above average standards in national assessments. Overall progress in Key Stage 2 is satisfactory but is uneven between years and subjects. Standards are broadly average in national tests in English, mathematics and science, meeting the school’s targets. However, the higher attaining pupils are not being sufficiently challenged to write imaginatively as they move through Key Stage 2. Over several years, girls have not achieved as well as boys in mathematics. This is because some girls lose enthusiasm for the subject as teaching approaches are

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Grade: 3

not varied enough. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make satisfactory progress. Their individual learning plans are adequate, but do not guide teachers clearly enough to match work closely to pupils’ needs.

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Grade: 2

Pupils’ personal development is good. They enjoy school and learning and their behaviour is good. Parents comment that the children are supportive of each other and they appreciate the happy foundations laid down in the nursery. The school provides good guidance on healthy lifestyles. Teachers give clear advice about keeping safe and pupils report that they feel secure at school. They appreciate the option of placing their concerns in the class worry box. Pupils are pleased to be members of the school council, for instance, playing a useful part in the new headteacher’s recruitment interview. Pupils have a strong sense of belonging to the community because of their charitable work. These responsibilities and the good basic skills prepare them well for their future role in society. Social, moral, spiritual and cultural development is good. Pupils are polite and enjoy learning cooperatively. Links with the church extend their

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Grade: 2

spiritual development, as does the celebration of the natural world. 3 Inspection Report: St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, 30 November °1 December 2006

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are satisfactory overall with some good lessons, especially in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. In these lessons, the pace is brisk and the focus is more on learning through practical activities and exploration to ensure effective learning. Teaching in Key Stage 2 does not always have these features and the use of work sheets and isolated exercises fails to interest pupils. Girls especially say they do not enjoy mathematics. Some lesson activities are not challenging enough to meet all pupils’ needs, particularly in imaginative writing. ICT is taught well by a specialist once a week. However, the computer suite only provides for a small group of pupils to be taught at one time, which limits their progress. Throughout the school, teachers manage pupils well so that learning takes place in a calm atmosphere. Teaching assistants provide good support for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities so that

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Grade: 3

The curriculum fulfils statutory requirements. It is good in the Foundation Stage and includes a wide variety of stimulating activities. All pupils benefit from a weekly lesson which allows them to discuss relationships and raise any concerns. They say this helps them to feel safe in school. In Key Stage 2, teachers rely too much on commercial schemes of work which can limit the breadth of activity offered to pupils and insufficiently capture their interest. The curriculum is enriched satisfactorily by extra-curricular activities and a good number of sporting opportunities promote healthy lifestyles well. Visits are varied and bring learning to life; for instance, pupils recall enthusiastically visits which involved dressing up as historical characters. There are good links with parents and other services and educational institutions that contribute well to pupils’ learning.

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Grade: 3

Staff ensure that all safety and safeguarding procedures are in place, including when pupils go on school visits. Vulnerable pupils are well cared for and links with external agencies to support their needs are good. All pupils benefit from the knowledge that staff have a genuine concern for their welfare. Assessment procedures are new but the school has only recently analysed the information gained to pinpoint where pupils are not making enough progress. This has led to slower than expected progress for some pupils in Key Stage 2. Currently, assessment information is not shared sufficiently with pupils in order to accelerate their progress. 4 Inspection Report: St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, 30 November °1 December 2006

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory. Staff and governors have responded well to the recent difficulties from having no substantive headteacher. They have sustained a smooth running school with no significant decline in pupils’ personal development or academic achievement. Nevertheless, it has been a period of marking time rather than moving forward. The quick succession of temporary headteachers has made it difficult to identify and implement change. For example, the role of subject leaders continues to require attention. They do not monitor progress well enough to have a clear insight into how best to improve quality and raise standards. The school’s self-evaluation is based on consultation and is generally satisfactory. Governance is good. The governing body responded well to the need to take key decisions, especially regarding finance and the difficulties caused by falling rolls. They have delayed appointing a new headteacher until they felt sure they had found the

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Grade: 3

correct person for the job. Governors are regular visitors to school but are not involved enough in the initial setting of school priorities. 5 Inspection Report: St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, 30 November °1 December 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: St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, 30 November °1 December 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? 2 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

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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?

2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The behaviour of learners 3 The attendance of learners 2 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

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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: St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, 30 November °1 December 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: St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, 30 November °1 December 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School Mill Lane Up Holland Skelmersdale Lancashire WN8 0HH 5 December 2006 Dear Pupils Thank you for making me and my colleague so welcome in your school. It was lovely seeing you all prepare for Christmas. We appreciated the way you chatted to us and your comments have helped in the writing of this report. You are correct that yours is a happy school and you contribute to this by your good behaviour and the way you help each other. We were pleased to find out that you know a lot about keeping healthy and enjoy being energetic, especially on the playground. You work hard and take great pride in your handwriting. Some pupils still need to get higher standards in writing and we have asked for lessons in mathematics to be made more interesting for older pupils. Your computer suite is very small and this restricts the amount of time you have to practise your ICT skills. In some lessons that we saw you were thinking about how you

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

could assess your own work. We think this is a good idea and could be used throughout the school to help you understand how to get even better. I hope the Christmas celebrations went well and you enjoyed yourselves. Yours sincerely J E Platt Lead Inspector 9 Inspection Report: St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, 30 November °1 December 2006

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