St Peter's CofE Infant School

St Peter's CofE Infant School Inspection report

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125197 Unique Reference Number Surrey Local Authority 293226 Inspection number 31 January 2008 Inspection date Margaret Coussins 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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Infant Type of school Voluntary aided School category 4 °7 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 87 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs L Cannings-Knight Chair Mrs R Dalziel Headteacher 26 February 2002 Date of previous school inspection Tandridge Lane School address Oxted RH8 9NN 01883 712439 Telephone number 01883 712439 Fax number

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4-7 Age group 31 January 2008 Inspection date 293226 Inspection number .

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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. The inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues.

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Introduction

Evidence was gathered from performance data, observation of teaching and learning, school information and records and pupils' work. Parents' questionnaires and discussions with pupils, staff and governors also contributed to the judgements. Other aspects of the school's work were not inspected in detail, but the inspector found no evidence to suggest that the school's own assessments, as given in its self-evaluation, were not justified and these have been included, where appropriate, in this report.

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Description of the school

St Peter's C of E Infant School is a small village school which serves families from the village, surrounding towns, villages and local farming communities. Most pupils come from favourable socio-economic backgrounds. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is well below average as is the proportion with learning difficulties or disabilities.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 9 Inspection Report: St Peter's CofE Infant School, 31 January 2008

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Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school which gives pupils an excellent start to their education. A parent wrote that the school is 'First Class, we could not ask for more.' Each child is made to feel special because the school is committed to meeting their individual personal and academic needs. They make excellent progress both academically and personally and develop as well rounded individuals who are happy, confident and excited by what their school offers them. A group of pupils agreed with one who said, 'We don't just like school, we really, really love it.' Teaching and learning are excellent. Pupils consistently reach exceptionally high standards at the end of Year 2 in reading, writing and mathematics, and achievement throughout the school is excellent. Pupils achieve so well because teachers successfully plan to meet their needs and provide interesting and exciting lessons through a broad and rich curriculum. Learning is

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Grade: 1

particularly effective because teachers give pupils opportunities to learn independently and use their initiative. Teaching assistants make a very significant contribution to the school's work and pupils' achievement. The school ensures that all pupils succeed, including those who may find learning difficult. Relationships are exemplary and, as a result, pupils work hard and learn at a very good rate. Learning objectives are very clear and build on what has gone before, taking very good account of pupils' differing needs. Pupils are involved in assessing how well they have done in lessons and talk confidently about the targets they have been set. The school is aware that occasionally, some very able pupils feel that they would like to be challenged further in their work and this is a focus in its school development planning. Pupils' personal development and well-being are outstanding because of the excellent care,

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Grade: 1

guidance and support provided. Pupils are friendly, exuberant and articulate. Behaviour is very good. Teachers manage and improve any inappropriate behaviour very successfully so that learning is not disrupted. Pupils are confident, enjoy and take seriously the many responsibilities they are given, and are proud of their work in the local and wider community. They have an excellent awareness of the need for active, healthy lifestyles and enjoy the range of clubs, which help them keep fit and learn new skills. Parents and the inspector agree that pupils are very well prepared for their future lives and almost all achieve exceptionally well. One parent wrote that her children 'flourish in this environment and St Peter's prepares them very well for the challenges ahead and gives them an excellent first stage of education.' Outstanding leadership and management ensure rigorous and accurate evaluation of every

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Grade: 1

aspect of the school's performance leading to effective action for improvement. Teamwork is very strong. Throughout the school there is a determined and persistent focus on raising pupils' achievement among all members of staff. A close check is kept on how well pupils are doing through assessment and tracking procedures. Information is used effectively to provide additional support where necessary. Teachers, support staff, pupils, parents and governors all share a common sense of purpose and direction. The very supportive governing body holds the school to account very well for its performance. Strong links with the Church promote the Christian ethos of the school while promoting understanding and respect for other faiths and cultures. The headteacher drives the work of the school exceptionally well and constantly strives and succeeds to improve the provision for the pupils. Her energy and expertise inspires loyalty and

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Grade: 1

commitment from the whole school community. One parent wrote 'An excellent headteacher, always positive and moving forward.' The relentless aim for further development from the school's existing secure and successful position shows its outstanding capacity to continue improving. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: St Peter's CofE Infant School, 31 January 2008

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Grade: 1

Children get off to an excellent start in the Reception class. When they join the school, their skills are above what is usually expected. They make very good progress and, by the end of the Reception year, almost all attain the early learning goals expected for their age and the vast majority exceed them. This is because of skilled teaching, strong teamwork and a curriculum which provides a good balance between activities directed by teachers and those where children make their own choices. Children quickly learn to work together, talk about their learning, follow school rules and develop independence. A parent wrote, 'My son has become more confident and his behaviour is improving.' Children enjoy what they do and feel secure and welcome because of very good links between home and school.

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What the school should do to improve further

The school has no major weaknesses and has outlined the areas it intends to develop in its improvement plan. The inspector agrees that, in order to build on its success, the school should implement these priorities, particularly in expanding and enriching the provision for more able pupils. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: St Peter's CofE Infant School, 31 January 2008 .

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What the school should do to improve further

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: St Peter's CofE Infant School, 31 January 2008

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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? Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 1 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 1 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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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 extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 How well learners enjoy their education 2 The attendance of learners 1 The behaviour of learners 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 of 9 Inspection Report: St Peter's CofE Infant School, 31 January 2008

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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 1 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 1 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 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 of 9 Inspection Report: St Peter's CofE Infant School, 31 January 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

12 February 2008 Dear Children Inspection of St Peter's CofE Infant School,Oxted,RH8 9NN I am writing to thank you for making me so welcome when I visited your school. I really enjoyed spending the day with you. Thank you for talking to me about your work and telling me what you think about your school. You were all very friendly, helpful and polite. I agree with you and your parents that St Peter's is an excellent school and I know you really enjoy being there. You are doing extremely well in your learning because your lessons are exciting and interesting. Your teachers know you very well and give you work which is usually just right for you. This means that you learn new things very quickly. You are very lucky to have such a lot of different things to do. I thought you behaved well in class and in the playground. Everyone in the school takes excellent care of you and helps you all to do your best. Your headteacher does an excellent job in running the school and knows how to make it even

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

better in the future. All the staff are working very hard to make your school even better all the time. They know that some of you do so well that sometimes your work could be even more challenging and are working to make this happen. I have agreed with them that this is a good idea. I was very lucky to be in your assembly and hear your fantastic singing. It was superb and you were enjoying yourselves so much. It was such a pleasure to see all your happy, smiling faces. Thank you again for all your help and being so interesting to talk to. With best wishes Margaret Coussins Lead Inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: St Peter's CofE Infant School, 31 January 2008

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