Hassell Primary School

Inspection Report Hassell Community Primary School

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124110 Unique Reference Number Staffordshire Local Authority 292891 Inspection number 29 °30 January 2007 Inspection dates David Biltcliffe 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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Barracks Road School address Primary Type of school Newcastle Community School category ST5 1LF 4 °11 Age range of pupils 01782 297500 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01782 297505 Fax number 287 Number on roll (school) Kim Smalley Chair The governing body Appropriate authority David Edwards Headteacher 11 June 2002 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 292891 29 °30 January 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 three Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

The school is slightly larger than the typical primary school. Children's attainment on entry to Reception is similar to that of most children nationally. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is broadly average. The vast majority of pupils are of White British origin. The number of pupils in the school with learning difficulties is slightly below average. Five pupils are at an early stage of learning English.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Hassell Community Primary School, 29 °30 January 2007

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Grade: 2

Hassell Primary is a good school with some very good features. It gives its pupils a good all-round education. It is an improving school that has made solid progress since its last inspection in 2002. It is effective in what it does largely because of good leadership and teaching. By the time pupils leave the school, their standard of work is above average. Since they start in Reception at a level that is close to average, this rate of progress represents a good achievement. Pupils with learning difficulties make good progress. Higher ability pupils generally make good progress, but are not always stretched enough, particularly in scientific investigations and in some of their writing. Children make good progress in Reception. The main factors in pupils' rate of progress are the quality of teaching and the school's very good climate for learning. Pupils try hard, learn responsibly and want to succeed.

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Grade: 2

They are pleasant, polite and well behaved. Attendance is very high. The majority of pupils eat and exercise sensibly. They feel safe. They gain significant experience of taking responsibility and are prepared well for their future lives. Parents are very pleased with what the school does for their children. As several said, 'We are impressed by its excellent qualities.' Teaching and learning are good. Lessons are well planned, interesting, very orderly and well paced. The curriculum is broad, with particular strengths in extra-curricular activities that significantly extend pupils' experiences. Pupils are well cared for, sensitively supported and encouraged to do well. A small amount of teaching is undemanding, with the result that pupils, especially the more able, do not always have to think hard enough or cover sufficient ground. The school is in good hands. Its leadership and management are committed, sensitive

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Grade: 2

and effective. Management has an accurate idea of the school's strengths and what it needs to do to improve its few weaker spots. Standards of attainment and achievement are being sustained at a good level. Teaching quality has improved since the last inspection, even though more remains to be done to meet fully the needs of higher-ability pupils. Not all safeguarding checks, however, are up to date. The school exceeded the reasonable targets it set itself in the 2006 national tests, but its targets for the current year are not quite challenging enough. An ethos of hard work and enjoyment in learning is very well established. Governors' monitoring and support are thorough. The school gives good value for money. Its good quality in all aspects of its work is an outstanding feature.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Ensure that pupils of higher ability are always adequately challenged in lessons and that high enough targets are set. • Ensure that a greater proportion of pupils reach high standards in investigational work in science. 2 Inspection Report: Hassell Community Primary School, 29 °30 January 2007 • Keep up to date the formal checks that are necessary to safeguard pupils' welfare.

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Grade: 2

Children start in Reception with standards that are close to those nationally expected and leave the school at an above average level. This represents good progress and achievement by most pupils during their time in school. Children make good progress in Reception. By the end of Year 2, the overall standard in reading, writing and mathematics is above average. Although slightly fewer pupils reached a high level in these aspects in 2006 than did so in the previous year, the overall standard reached in the Foundation Stage and in Years 1 and 2 represents a good achievement. Pupils continue to make good progress during Years 3 to 6, reaching an above average standard by the time they leave school. English and mathematics are particular strengths. In 2006, for example, the proportion of pupils reaching the higher Level 5 in these subjects was almost double the national figure. The picture in science is not

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Grade: 2

quite up to the same standard and is an aspect for further improvement. Although achievement remained sound over the 2003 to 2005 period, the slight decline recorded during that time has been effectively reversed. Occasionally, more able pupils do not achieve quite as well as others, because the questions and written work they receive do not always extend their thinking enough. Pupils with learning difficulties make good progress, owing to the well targeted support they receive.

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Grade: 2

Pupils' personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is good, with some outstanding features. Pupils enjoy school and work diligently. Attendance and punctuality are very good, another key factor in pupils' good achievement. Pupils behave very well in lessons and around the school. They readily take on responsibility. For example, the Year 6 playleaders are, rightly, proud of the support they give to younger pupils. Pupils exercise a significant, positive influence on school life through the school council. Pupils are well prepared for their future lives, because they achieve well in basic skills and acquire a thorough understanding of how to work constructively in groups. Year 6 pupils, for example, organise fund-raising for an annual party for senior citizens. Pupils eat healthily and stay safe, partly as a result of the extensive work they do in personal, social, health and citizenship education.

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Grade: 2

3 Inspection Report: Hassell Community Primary School, 29 °30 January 2007

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good. Pupils enjoy their lessons, work hard and learn well, because staff teach interesting, carefully structured lessons. Teachers create a positive atmosphere that encourages pupils to have a go and persevere. As one girl said, 'I found this difficult, but I like to try my best.' Pupils also work very well independently, because teachers give them many opportunities to do so and have high expectations of attitudes and behaviour. Work is generally well matched to pupils' abilities but, in a few lessons, more able pupils are not stretched enough. Behaviour is well managed and pupils are keen to learn. Teaching assistants are used effectively. In the best lessons, teachers use questions very effectively to ensure that pupils think through their ideas carefully and give developed, more precise answers. Occasionally, however, they focus more on the tasks in hand than on what pupils are actually learning,

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Grade: 2

so lessening pupils' achievement. Teachers mark pupils' work thoroughly, usually telling them how to improve. The quality of teaching has improved significantly since the last inspection.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good because it meets pupils' needs well. The school puts an appropriate emphasis on literacy and mathematics. Each subject is carefully planned and the curriculum is well balanced, despite the lack of a central record of the time spent on each subject. Pupils are well taught about healthy living and the dangers of drugs. They work effectively with one another on joint projects and older pupils acquire a good foundation in business skills. They also benefit from learning French and German through the close links established with a local secondary school. Children in Reception achieve well, because activities are well planned. Pupils enhance their personal development well through a wide range of enrichment activities. Challenges to extend the highest ability pupils are beginning to be developed through good links with other schools.

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Grade: 2

The school works hard and successfully to enhance pupils' development and to keep them safe and healthy. It measures individual pupils' progress carefully and provides them with clear goals for learning, particularly in English and mathematics. The school successfully promotes pupils' physical and emotional development and their personal safety. Pupils say they cannot recall any incidences of bullying or other 4 Inspection Report: Hassell Community Primary School, 29 °30 January 2007 oppressive behaviour, but feel confident that any such occurrences would be quickly dealt with. The school secures very good behaviour, partly through a well understood system of rewards and sanctions. Pupils with behavioural and social difficulties receive good support. The greater range of stimulating equipment in the playground is one example of solid improvement since the previous inspection. Pupils say they now enjoy playtimes and

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Grade: 2

feel safe. Suitable child protection procedures and systems for reducing potential hazards are in place, although the school has not centralised its records that show that all statutory personnel checks have been carried out. The school's measures to ensure pupils' safety in the restricted playground, though onerous, are thoughtfully planned.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good. The headteacher's clear vision, determination and wise guidance have raised pupils' achievement to a good level through a concerted focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning. He is well supported by senior managers who share his commitment and contribute significantly to improving the school. The school has an accurate picture of its strengths and weaknesses, because it has developed a thorough system of self-evaluation. Teachers receive regular feedback on how they can improve further and share best practice widely. Governors, senior managers and subject leaders closely monitor how well the school is doing. The school's success in improving achievement in 2006 shows that it has a good capacity to improve. The school's strategic plan is well constructed. Although the setting of overall school targets is not always challenging enough, there is an effective system for tracking

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Grade: 2

pupils' progress. The school helps pupils with learning difficulties to achieve well. A weakness that the school has already identified is that more able pupils do not always achieve as well as they should. Governors are well informed about the school through the links they have with individual subjects. They ask searching questions and hold the school appropriately to account. Finance is well managed to ensure good value for money. Staff are deployed carefully to make the best use of their expertise. The school has extensive partnerships with other institutions and agencies that make a significant contribution to pupils' good progress and personal development. This is a good school that is well poised for still further improvement. 5 Inspection Report: Hassell Community Primary School, 29 °30 January 2007 .

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Grade: 2

set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: Hassell Community Primary School, 29 °30 January 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? 2 The quality and standards in the Foundation Stage 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 2 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

2 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 2 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 1 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?

2 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: Hassell Community Primary School, 29 °30 January 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 No 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: Hassell Community Primary School, 29 °30 January 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

As you know, inspectors recently visited your school to see how well it is doing. We should like to thank you all very much for telling us what you think and making us welcome. Overall, we think that Hassell Primary is a good school. We found many good things, of which you and your parents can be proud. • Standards by Year 6 are above average. You do particularly well in English and mathematics. • You make good progress in lessons and achieve well. • This is because you work hard and are taught well. • You are pleasant and polite, and behave very well. • Your attendance and punctuality are very good. You enjoy coming to school. • Your teachers look after you carefully and sensitively. • Your school is very well run. • You are well prepared for your future lives. There are also just a few things that need to be better. Please do all you can to make your school a still better place. • Occasionally, you do not have to think quickly or deeply enough in lessons.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

• The most able amongst you could do still better, especially in science. • Some important information about the school's work needs to be better recorded. We send you our very best wishes for the future. 9 Inspection Report: Hassell Community Primary School, 29 °30 January 2007

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