Fritwell Church of England Primary School

Inspection Report Fritwell Church of England Primary School

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123099 Unique Reference Number Oxfordshire Local Authority 292580 Inspection number 23 February 2007 Inspection date Christopher Parker 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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East Street School address Primary Type of school Fritwell Voluntary controlled School category Bicester OX27 7PX 4 °11 Age range of pupils 01869 345283 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01869 345241 Fax number 168 Number on roll (school) Mr P Cliff Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs C Critchley Headteacher 17 September 2001 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection date Age group 292580 23 February 2007 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

The school serves nine socially and economically diverse village communities. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is lower than average. Fewer pupils than usual have learning difficulties. More pupils leave and join the school throughout the year than usual.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Fritwell Church of England Primary School, 23 February 2007

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Grade: 1

This is a highly effective school where pupils' achievement is outstanding. They reach high standards in English, mathematics and science because the teaching is very effective. The school is excellently led and managed by the headteacher and senior staff who have a sharp focus on continually improving the teaching, the curriculum and the pupils' progress. The youngest children make a particularly good start to school life in the Foundation Stage. The excellent accommodation and resources, interesting tasks, lively teaching and very effective support combine to help most children to reach the goals set for the end of the Reception Year. In Years 1 and 2 they make good progress although some of the younger pupils make slightly slower progress in mathematics. From Year 3 to Year 6 the pupils make rapid progress because expectations are high and the teaching is outstanding. It is particularly strong in English and results in exceptionally

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Grade: 1

high standards by the end of Year 6. Efforts to improve the quality of the teaching of writing have brought clear benefits. These lessons, particularly for older pupils, motivate and engage them. Consequently, they thoroughly enjoy learning, concentrate fully and make rapid progress. Steps are now being taken to make sure the teaching of the younger pupils is of consistently high quality so that they make faster progress in mathematics. The school's ability to pinpoint where improvement is needed is a direct consequence of robust monitoring of teaching and detailed tracking of the pupils' progress. The pupils' behaviour is excellent. Their contributions to discussions are thoughtful and they value the excellent opportunities the school offers them. Parents hold the school in high regard. Many commented on the leadership of the headteacher, judging it to be, 'very strong', 'outstanding', and 'excellent'. They are also impressed by the

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Grade: 1

'team spirit' of both the staff and pupils and the extent to which their views are sought, listened to and often acted upon. The headteacher, senior staff and governors use their incisive analysis of the school's performance to plan further developments. The school is extremely well placed to continue to improve.

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What the school should do to improve further

Ensure the teaching of mathematics is of consistently high quality in all lessons.

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Grade: 1

Achievement is outstanding. The children make a very good start to school life in the Foundation Stage. Pupils make good progress in Year 1 and Year 2, although some do not do quite as well as expected in mathematics when they first move from the 2 Inspection Report: Fritwell Church of England Primary School, 23 February 2007 Foundation Stage. Nevertheless, standards in reading, writing and mathematics are significantly above average by the end of Year 2. Analysis of the school's performance over the last few years shows that pupils make rapid progress between Years 2 and 6. In 2006 their comparative progress was in the top three per cent of schools. The results of national tests at the end of Year 6 are consistently well above average. In 2006, results in English were exceptionally high reflecting the very effective steps taken to improve pupils' writing. Pupils with learning difficulties make equally rapid progress. The pupils are excellently prepared for the

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Grade: 1

Personal development and well-being are excellent. The many opportunities the school provides result in the pupils becoming enthusiastic learners who enjoy school. One pupil commented that the teachers, 'do a really good job of making lessons fun!' The pupils say that the work they have done towards the Healthy Schools Award has influenced what they eat. They have adopted far healthier lifestyles as a result of their very good knowledge of healthy diet and the need for exercise. They gained an excellent knowledge of how to stay safe while the school was recently being modernised and extended. Attendance is above average. The school council represents the views of the pupils very well. It organises charity events and makes decisions about playground resources and activities. Those who are given responsibilities take them very seriously. Collective worship makes a very strong contribution to the pupils' outstanding spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

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Grade: 1

Teaching and learning are outstanding. The combination of many good and excellent lessons is the main reason why pupils do so well. In the Foundation Stage, the first rate facilities are used extremely effectively. The adults provide interesting activities, both led by the teacher and those the children chose themselves to develop a wide range of skills. In Years 1 and 2 the teaching is good, but there are occasions when the younger children are not as effectively engaged in mathematics lessons, as they are throughout the rest of the school. In Years 3 to 6 the teaching is particularly strong and the teaching of English is excellent. The teachers have very good subject knowledge which they use to create captivating opportunities for the pupils. As a result, pupils write with interest, imagination and enhance their rapidly expanding skills. The high expectations placed upon the pupils result in the rapid progress they make between

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Grade: 1

Years 2 and 6. 3 Inspection Report: Fritwell Church of England Primary School, 23 February 2007

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Grade: 1

'The opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities and sports are excellent.' This is just one of the many positive comments made by parents about the opportunities provided for their children. Discussions with pupils confirm their enjoyment of sports competitions, focus weeks, visits to places of interest and visitors to the school. They also welcome the opportunity to learn French and Spanish and gain a broad understanding of other countries and cultures. There are excellent links with schools in other countries. In geography older pupils are currently learning about St Lucia and some of the younger pupils are finding out about Africa. The quality of art work on display is of a high standard showing not only the school's commitment to a broad curriculum but also to high quality activities. Discussions with pupils about their use of information and communication technology also support the view that the curriculum

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Grade: 1

Care, guidance and support are outstanding. Pupils are very confident that any difficulties that arise will be dealt with quickly by the adults. Procedures for health and safety and risk assessments are fully in place. The school carries out the checks that are required on the adults who work in the school. Pupils of all abilities are given excellent academic guidance to ensure they reach the levels they should. Assessment is used exceptionally well to aid learning and is a key factor which contributes to the excellent achievement. Marking is very effective in helping the pupils to improve their writing. Teachers keep a close eye on progress and set challenging targets that pupils must, should and could achieve. Pupils with learning difficulties are given very good support by teaching assistants.

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Grade: 1

Many parents expressed very positive views of the leadership of the school. Some added their regret at the headteacher's forthcoming move to a larger school. One noted, '...she leaves in the knowledge she has developed an excellent school with very good standards and an excellent reputation'. The school's success is based on thorough and effective systems to monitor, evaluate and improve the quality of teaching and learning. As a result, most, but not yet all lessons are of high quality. The leadership team knows precisely where some lessons are not fully engaging all of the younger pupils and have already taken steps to bring improvements. Links with parents are very strong and productive. One parent commented, 'The school regularly asks for parents' views and acts on them'. This was supported by others who 4 Inspection Report: Fritwell Church of England Primary School, 23 February 2007 were particularly pleased with the broader range of sports activities on offer following

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Grade: 1

consultation with them. Governors are very well informed and keep a keen eye on the school's performance. They are actively involved in monitoring work in school, as well as implementing the plan to improve provision and extend the pupils' achievements. 5 Inspection Report: Fritwell Church of England Primary School, 23 February 2007 .

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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: Fritwell Church of England Primary School, 23 February 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? 1 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 2 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: Fritwell Church of England Primary School, 23 February 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: Fritwell Church of England Primary School, 23 February 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

I thoroughly enjoyed my recent visit to your school. Many of your parents wrote to me to tell me how pleased they were with the school and the progress you are making. Some of you also told me how much you enjoy school and the many opportunities it provides for you to play sports, learn to play a musical instrument and begin to speak French and Spanish. Yours is an outstanding school. Many of you are reaching high standards in English, mathematics and science by the end of Year 6. You make rapid progress because most of the teaching is very effective. Occasionally, some lessons are not quite as good as usual. I have asked the headteacher to try to make sure that in all lessons all members of the class get really involved. This will help some of the younger pupils make faster progress in mathematics. You behave excellently. Those of you who are given responsibilities take them very seriously and carry them out conscientiously. The headteacher, senior staff and governors do an excellent

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

job of making sure you do as well as you can. They are always checking that things are going well and looking for ways to improve. Together, they have been very successful in preparing you very well for the future. I hope you continue to do as well and you can. Yours sincerely Christopher Parker Lead inspector 9 Inspection Report: Fritwell Church of England Primary School, 23 February 2007

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