Walwayne Court School

126289 Unique Reference Number Wiltshire Local Authority 293509 Inspection number 13 °14 December 2006 Inspection dates Faysal Mikdadi 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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Brook Road School address Primary Type of school Trowbridge Community School category BA14 9DU 5 °11 Age range of pupils 01225 776886 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01225 776885 Fax number 276 Number on roll (school) J Vanderpump Chair The governing body Appropriate authority R Brown Headteacher 18 June 2001 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 293509 13 °14 December 2006 5°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

Walwayne Court is an averaged sized school. Pupils are mostly White British although an increasing number of minority ethnic children have joined the school over the last few years. There are fewer pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities than the national average. A very small number speak a language other than English at home but they do not need any extra English support.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Walwayne Court School, 13 °14 December 2006

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Grade: 2

Walwayne Court is a good school. This is confirmed by parents who speak well of its work. One parent's opinion is typical: 'Walwayne has a happy and safe feel to it and my child loves coming to school every day'. The school is successful because leadership and management are good. The headteacher, aided by committed staff and supportive governors, provides good leadership. Everyone shares a common vision focusing on each pupil, and systems for the care, guidance and support of pupils are effective. As a result, pupils' personal development is good and pupils say that they enjoy school. They have many opportunities to take on responsibilities such as taking care of younger children and to take part in many enrichment activities. There is a happy, healthy and safe learning environment which parents refer to as being a major strength. As a result, the school has a good capacity for further improvement.

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Grade: 2

There are good procedures which ensure that everyone knows what the school does well and what it needs to do to improve further. As a consequence, improvements since the last inspection have been good. Last year's determined push to raise standards resulted in significant improvements in the 2006 test results for pupils in Years 2 and 6. Standards are currently above those expected nationally which would indicate that the improvements made in 2006 are likely to be sustained. The school recognises current weaknesses in boys' writing. They often make errors in their writing and many find it difficult to write extended pieces. Standards have improved and pupils achieve well because of the good teaching. In the Reception year children make good progress, especially in their language and communication skills. The curriculum is satisfactory overall. Currently, all pupils receive a broad and balanced curriculum which is well supplemented by a good enrichment programme. However,

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Grade: 2

there are insufficient opportunities for educating pupils for a culturally diverse society.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards and achievement further in writing by helping boys to write more accurately and, when needed, at some length. • Ensure that British cultural diversity is reflected in the pupils' curriculum as it is in other aspects of the school's work.

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Grade: 2

Because of good teaching and effective checks on pupils' progress, all pupils achieve well. The result is that whenever a weakness is identified it is dealt with effectively. Many children begin Reception with below average language skills. The focus on developing these skills ensures that they make good progress. Many are in line to achieve the goals expected of them. Once pupils are in Year 1, this improvement is built on so that they continue to make good progress. Consequently, the end of Year 2 Inspection Report: Walwayne Court School, 13 °14 December 2006 2 results have improved significantly in reading, writing and mathematics and standards are now above those expected nationally. The Year 6 test results have improved, particularly in mathematics and science in 2006 because of the strong focus on raising standards. Current standards, which are above average, indicate that pupils are well on the way to gaining the results predicted for

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Grade: 2

them. Despite the improvement in writing skills seen in 2006, boys' writing is still a relative weakness. Boys are still reluctant to write extended pieces and many are not yet fully competent in maintaining grammatical accuracy. Pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities make good progress because they are monitored regularly and because they are well supported using their individual educational plans (IEPs).

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Grade: 2

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. They are proud of their school, enjoy learning and are keen to take part in activities. Their spiritual development shows well in their eagerness to take part in assemblies, high quality art work and the appreciation of others' views in discussions. They have a good understanding of British culture although the school acknowledges that their understanding of other cultures is insufficiently developed. Behaviour in lessons and around school is good and often excellent. Pupils' good work habits and good basic skills promise well for their future progress. They make a good contribution to the smooth running of the school by taking on challenging responsibilities. Lunchtimes are a delight, with older pupils setting the example for younger pupils on their assigned table. Pupils have a good understanding of healthy lifestyles and play energetically but responsibly together. Attendance continues to be

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Grade: 2

well above average and there have been no recent exclusions.

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Grade: 2

Good quality teaching enables pupils to achieve well and to make good progress. Teachers successfully help pupils develop their personal and social skills. Children in the Reception year benefit from a range of exciting activities, including purposeful play, and there is an appropriate balance of teacher led activities and those chosen by children. All classrooms have a good learning atmosphere with pupils engaged in a variety of good and purposeful activities which they say that they enjoy. Assessment is well focused on targets set for each pupil so that each of them knows what needs to be done in order to improve further. Pupils are clearly used to classroom routines and these, along with teachers' high expectations and effective support given by teaching 3 Inspection Report: Walwayne Court School, 13 °14 December 2006 assistants, encourage good learning. Teachers, though, do not always make sure that

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Grade: 2

pupils are given written tasks that match their individual capabilities with the result that some pupils, especially some boys, are still relatively behind in their writing.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum meets the needs of pupils. It is enriched by a good range of visitors, educational visits, extra-curricular activities and links with the local secondary school. These contribute much to the pupils' personal development and positive attitudes. Reception children enjoy an interesting range of activities although the provision for outdoor play is only satisfactory. It is improving because of the new opportunities for structured play. There is a good focus throughout the school on developing basic skills. The school is sensibly developing links between subjects to make learning more meaningful. The provision for information and communication technology (ICT) has improved as pupils now have more hands on experience. The curriculum, however, does not offer sufficient opportunities for pupils to learn about British cultural diversity.

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Grade: 2

The school's strong community spirit is a strength. Staff are good role models in their caring and encouraging relationships with pupils. Child protection procedures are well understood and all statutory checks are in place. Clear routines and expectations ensure that pupils feel secure and enjoy learning. Induction procedures ensure that children are well prepared for school. Pupils are encouraged to do their best and their successes are warmly praised. As a result, pupils feel safe and valued. Assessment procedures have developed well, particularly for English and mathematics, and are now good. Pupils' progress is carefully and frequently checked in detail and pupils know their targets. These regular checks produce good quality information that is used to set clearly focused targets for each pupil. It also ensures that those needing extra help are identified early and helped effectively. Pupils with learning difficulties and

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Grade: 2

disabilities are well cared for. Their parents are kept fully informed of their progress and outside agencies are properly involved in providing specialist support where needed.

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Grade: 2

The headteacher's leadership is highly regarded by staff and parents. One parent's view reflects the kind of comments made by parents about the headteacher: 'He really understands the educational and emotional needs of children and communicates very well with them. This attitude transfers itself to all of his teaching team'. Indeed, the word 'team' used here reflects the way that the school works. Everyone appears united in one aim, to do the best that they can for each child. The result has been a clear 4 Inspection Report: Walwayne Court School, 13 °14 December 2006 recognition of what areas need to be improved, higher standards and the creation of a happy learning environment. Planning is effective in making sure that improvements take place. For example, in planning the school's programme of checking and evaluating how well it is doing, careful attention is given to the targets for improvement agreed with each teacher.

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Grade: 2

Consequently, the support given to teachers is well focused on individual needs. Teachers speak highly of the help and guidance that they receive. Subject coordinators make a good contribution to these improvements. For example, last year the school identified the need to help pupils achieve higher levels in reading. The action taken has produced higher standards. Although writing and the education of pupils for a culturally diverse society are still relative weaknesses, the school is well placed to continue to make the improvements required. The senior team works closely with the governors, the local authority and parents whose views of the school are overwhelmingly positive. Governors know what the school does well and where it needs to improve. They offer good support and challenge. Consequently, governance is good. 5 Inspection Report: Walwayne Court School, 13 °14 December 2006 .

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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: Walwayne Court School, 13 °14 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 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 2 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: Walwayne Court School, 13 °14 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: Walwayne Court School, 13 °14 December 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Thank you very much for making us feel so welcome when we visited your school. We appreciated your help in telling us so much about your work and about the school. We agree with both yourselves and your parents when you say that Walwayne Court is a good school. Here are some of the things that make your school good: • You make good progress and the standards of your work have improved a lot. • You behave well around the school and you are friendly as well as kind to each other. • You enjoy coming to school and you like your teachers. • You are well taught. • Adults in the school look after you and care for you well which makes you feel safe and happy coming to school. • The headteacher and others work hard to make your school even better. • Your parents say that they are happy with the work that your teachers do with you and with the way that they tell them about your work. We asked your school to do the following two things in order to make it even better than it is

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

now: • Help boys with their writing so that they are able to write in more detail with fewer mistakes. • Teach you about the different ways that people from different cultures live and work. Once more, thank you very much for your help. Thank you also for the wonderful Christmas performance, which we all enjoyed very much. We wish you all the very best for the future. 9 Inspection Report: Walwayne Court School, 13 °14 December 2006

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