Willoughby Primary School

Inspection Report Willoughby Primary School

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122681 Unique Reference Number NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Local Authority 292476 Inspection number 5 December 2006 Inspection date Gill Broadbent 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 Lane School address Primary Type of school Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, Willoughby-on-the-Wolds Community School category

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Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 6SS 4 °11 Age range of pupils

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01509 880620 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01509 881834 Fax number 44 Number on roll (school) Dr Basil Haynes Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Alan Guilder Headteacher 5 February 2001 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection date Age group 292476 5 December 2006 4 °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 an Additional Inspector

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Description of the school

This small school serves a rural community. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage and all speak English as their first language. No pupils are entitled to receive free school meals. A smaller proportion of pupils than average have learning difficulties and none have statements of special educational needs. Children start school in September or January before their fifth birthday with skills above those expected for their age.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Willoughby Primary School, 5 December 2006

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Grade: 1

Parents and their children are right to be proud of this outstanding school. The headteacher, staff and governors fully achieve their aim of providing pupils with learning for life. They do this extremely well by ensuring that pupils enjoy learning and achieve as well as they can. Pupils contribute to their success through their excellent attitudes, attendance, punctuality and behaviour. Parents say that their children can't wait to get to school, which is not surprising. Teaching is always at least good and often outstanding throughout the school. Activities always challenge different groups of pupils at the right level and are very well matched to what pupils need to learn next. Teachers constantly check pupils' progress and intervene if necessary with additional support. As a result, pupils achieve high standards in English, mathematics and science at the end of Years 2 and 6 which prepares them well for their future

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Grade: 1

economic well-being. This success is not at the expense of other subjects that are equally well taught through an exceptionally rich range of activities. Pupils learn to speak Japanese and French in Years 3 to 6 and have experienced an exchange visit hosting Japanese children. They support a family in Kenya and also learn about other cultures and religions. These activities make a significant contribution to their outstanding spiritual, moral and social development whilst preparing them effectively for their future lives as citizens of the world. The school council plays a high profile role, contributing much to the life and work of the school and pupils' excellent personal development and well being. Pupils are actively encouraged to help improve the provision for their education, health and safety. The school acted upon their suggestion to use different signals for playtime and fire alarms to ensure that there was no doubt about what they should do. Pupils

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Grade: 1

organise themselves well to raise funds for charities. They willingly take turns and record their use of equipment such as the rowing machine to make sure their skills are improving. A high number of pupils attend sporting activities and after school clubs that make outstanding contributions to enable pupils to lead healthy lifestyles. Leadership and management are outstanding. The headteacher, governors and staff work exceptionally well together and know the school's strengths and areas to improve further. Governors are highly skilled and provide constructive support and help. The numbers of part-time staff are high, but they all influence and contribute to school improvement and high quality provision very effectively. School development and improvement plans are based on an accurate assessment of the impact of its work and lead to sustained improvement, for example, in higher standards in writing. Information

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Grade: 1

and communication technology (ICT) has improved dramatically since the last inspection however this now needs to be used widely across all subjects. The range of activities for Foundation Stage children is good. The school rightly plans to enhance the outdoor learning and creative environment for these children. The school has an outstanding capacity to improve and provides excellent value for money. 2 Inspection Report: Willoughby Primary School, 5 December 2006

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What the school should do to improve further

• Improve the quality of the outdoor learning and creative environment for Foundation Stage pupils. • Develop the use of ICT across all subjects.

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Grade: 1

Pupils consistently build upon their above average skills each year, to reach exceptionally high standards at the end of Year 6 and their achievement is excellent. Results in teacher assessments and national tests when compared to other schools can be distorted because there are 10 or less pupils in each year group. The pupils' work and the school's efficient system for checking their progress shows that all pupils, including those with learning difficulties, consistently make good or outstanding progress to meet or exceed challenging targets at the end of Years 2 and 6. Almost every pupil reaches exceptionally high standards in English, mathematics and science. In the Foundation Stage children make good progress and exceed the skills expected for their age by the time they start Year 1.

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Grade: 1

This is outstanding. Pupils contribute much to the school and wider community. They develop responsible attitudes towards others through assemblies, being members of the school council and taking on increasing levels of responsibilities around the school. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent and developed through strong links with the nearby church, regular assemblies and charity events. Pupils show great concern for the world and empathy for those less fortunate than themselves. Pupils love learning because they are challenged and helped to do as well as they can by teachers who make learning interesting and fun. They find their target setting booklets help them to focus on what they need to learn next in English and mathematics and in their personal development. They try hard to improve and recognise how well they are achieving their own challenging targets. Pupils contribute good quality notices displayed around school to remind themselves

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Grade: 1

about lessons they have learnt about healthy living, how to keep themselves safe and how to learn. They take up every opportunity to lead healthy lifestyles by walking to school. They take part in the vast range of sporting activities on offer through the school's strong links with other schools and groups. Pupils become mature, responsible young people who articulate their ideas and views with clarity. Through the school council and in lessons they learn how democracy works, to negotiate in groups and how to work as a team by supporting each other, which has the potential to help them in their future working lives. 3 Inspection Report: Willoughby Primary School, 5 December 2006

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Grade: 1

This is excellent. The quality of teaching and learning is always at least good and often outstanding so that pupils do as well as they can. Teachers and staff who share classes work extremely well together and know their pupils' needs accurately. They are highly skilled professionals who know how pupils learn and what they need to learn next. All classes have mixed ages and teachers assess their pupils' learning needs effectively. They provide work that is challenging at the right level for each group which makes sure that all pupils make good and often outstanding progress. They constantly use new interactive white boards, games and practical activities to make learning highly engaging, effective and fun. Pupils and parents are right to appreciate how well the teachers cater for pupils' different needs across classes and year groups. Parents say that most other schools would welcome just one teacher with these skills but they

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Grade: 1

have them in all their teachers and teaching assistants.

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Grade: 1

This is outstanding. The curriculum is very well planned so that no work is repeated and pupils constantly build upon their skills, knowledge and understanding. The headteacher and staff have effective methods for checking that all aspects of work are covered and that the pupils experience a broad and well balanced curriculum. Visitors to school and visits out are often used to provide hands-on experience that brings learning to life whether at a science discovery park or the railway. The school makes very effective use of specialist staff to raise standards in music and art. Its links with other schools and colleges also enrich the curriculum. For example, specialist language teaching in French and Japanese is interesting and challenging. Pupils know this gives them a head start and increases their choices when they move to their next school. Sporting activities, board games, and other clubs are offered so that all interests

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Grade: 1

and ages are catered for at some time during the year.

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Grade: 1

This is outstanding. Each child and every family are known personally to every member of staff so that pupils' individual needs are consistently well catered for by everyone. Parents are confident that they can approach any member of staff at any time if they have concerns and know that their child is well cared for. Governors fulfil their responsibilities and ensure that there are good systems for ensuring child protection which meet the latest guidelines. Pupils are taught how to keep themselves healthy and safe which includes anti-bullying and anti-drugs strategies. Teachers check pupils' progress regularly and intervene swiftly to provide the right support at any sign that they are not making good enough progress. Probing questions during lessons that 4 Inspection Report: Willoughby Primary School, 5 December 2006 encourage pupils to think about their learning, discussions in class, marking and target

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Grade: 1

setting books all provide guidance that enables pupils to achieve as well as they can in their personal and academic development.

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Grade: 1

This is outstanding and is the driving force behind the school's excellent provision. The headteacher sets a clear direction for the school's development which is shared by all staff. Governors provide constructive support and practical help. All staff share their enthusiasm, high quality skills and expertise which enrich and contribute to school improvement and its high quality provision. The headteacher has established efficient, effective strategies to identify accurately the school's strengths and areas to improve through monitoring the quality of all aspects of its work with the support of all staff. The views of parents and pupils are regularly sought and their help is welcomed in supporting developments. Initiatives taken are prioritised and meticulously planned with attention to fine detail so that improvements are successful and sustained, for example in pupils' excellent behaviour. The school has very successfully completed

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Grade: 1

the outstanding issue of ICT from the last inspection. It is not complacent and knows it can improve this further. Recent building work has provided additional space. The school rightly plans to use this to improve the outdoor and creative learning environment for Foundation Stage children so that their needs can be met even more effectively. Based on sustained improvements, the strong leadership from all staff and the highly effective governing body, the school has an outstanding capacity to improve and provides excellent value for money. 5 Inspection Report: Willoughby Primary School, 5 December 2006 .

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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: Willoughby Primary School, 5 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 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

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Achievement and standards

1 How well do learners achieve? 1 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

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learners?

1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 1 The behaviour of learners 1 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

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and interests of learners?

1 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: Willoughby Primary School, 5 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: Willoughby Primary School, 5 December 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

6 December 2006 Dear Pupils Willoughby Primary School, Church Lane, Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 6SS Thank you very much for making me so welcome when I visited your school recently. This letter is to tell you about some of the important things I found. You told me how great your school is and how much you enjoy learning. You were right, it is an outstanding school that makes sure you learn extremely well and reach high standards. I agree with you that learning Japanese and French will give you more options in your next school. I noticed in lessons that teachers make sure you all have different hard work that is just at the right level for each group. They often give you games or practical activities that make learning fun. This makes sure that you all make really good and at times outstanding progress. The target setting books are helping you to concentrate on your English, mathematics and

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

personal targets so that you know how well you are doing. You help too by behaving exceptionally well, attending school regularly and punctually. You all get on well together and develop into mature, responsible young people who are thoughtful and caring. The school leaders are outstanding and all the adults do everything they can to make sure you have a high quality education and are very well cared for. Even though the school is excellent, they want to do even better. The school has already planned to improve the way it uses your new computers and whiteboards and to improve the outdoor and creative learning for the youngest children. I hope that you continue to work hard, enjoy your learning and all the fantastic range of after school activities. Yours sincerely Mrs Gill Broadbent Lead Inspector. 9 Inspection Report: Willoughby Primary School, 5 December 2006

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