Lark Hill Community Primary School

Lark Hill Community Primary School Inspection report

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132147 Unique Reference Number Salford Local Authority 293959 Inspection number 4 °5 July 2007 Inspection dates John Ashton 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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Primary Type of school Community School category 3 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 226 School

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The governing body Appropriate authority Mr C Brummitt Chair Mr Liam Fry Headteacher 3 March 2003 Date of previous school inspection Liverpool Street School address Salford Lancashire M5 4BJ

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0161 7364056 Telephone number 0161 7430161 Fax number

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3 °11 Age group 4 °5 July 2007 Inspection dates 293959 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 two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is an average sized primary school in Pendleton, to the west of the centre of the city of Salford, formed in 2000 from the amalgamation of two primary schools. It serves a community with high levels of social and economic disadvantage. An above average proportion of children has learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The large majority of children are White British, a few are of Asian or Caribbean heritage. There are five children for whom English is not their first language and who 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 3 of 11 Inspection Report: Lark Hill Community Primary School, 4 °5 July 2007

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Grade: 4

In accordance with section 13 (3) of the Education Act 2005, HMCI is of the opinion that this school requires significant improvement, because it is performing significantly less well than in all the circumstances it could reasonably be expected to perform. The school is therefore given a Notice to Improve. Significant improvement is required in relation to standards and achievement in English, mathematics and science, especially at Key Stage 2. The school does not provide value for money. Children enter the Nursery with much lower skill levels than is typical for a three-year-old. Their language and social skills are often poor. They make good progress in the Foundation Stage, particularly in their knowledge and understanding of the world and in their physical and creative development. Achievement elsewhere in the school has been inadequate over time. Standards by the end of Year 6 are too low and have fallen in recent years. This is because of some past

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Grade: 4

weaknesses in teaching, the effects of which are still being seen in the achievement of older pupils. The quality of teaching has improved and is satisfactory overall. Some teaching is good but inconsistencies remain across the school. Consequently, the pace of learning, whilst satisfactory overall, is uneven. The school is taking effective steps to improve, concentrating upon raising literacy and numeracy standards. There are strong indications that this is improving things rapidly, especially in Years 3 and 4, but has not yet overcome the legacy of past underachievement for children in Years 5 and 6. However, the curriculum is in danger of being too narrow as it concentrates upon improving just literacy and numeracy. Science has yet to be made a focus for intensive support and progress in this subject has been limited by weak subject leadership. The shortage of teaching assistants has hindered the school's ability to intervene on an individual basis in the

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Grade: 4

support of some children. As a result of a consistent approach across the school and determined action with a few children, behaviour is good in class. Children demonstrably enjoy most lessons and their attendance is now broadly satisfactory. They have a good understanding of the importance of keeping healthy and safe. The school works well with the local community and there are some opportunities for children to help their classmates and others in school. Weaknesses in basic skills, however, mean that children are not yet well enough prepared for the move to the next stage of their education. Governors and senior leadership are facing up to the issue of achievement not being good enough. With effective and intensive support from the local authority and some essential reorganisation within the school there are signs that the necessary improvements are taking place. Appropriate priorities have been identified and there is now an increased determination

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Grade: 4

and capacity to raise standards. Recent successful action is leading to better progress in current lessons. There have been general improvements in leadership and management. These include better monitoring from the headteacher and senior staff and more effective use of assessment data to identify underachievement. In this way the school has shown that it has a satisfactory capacity for maintaining this improvement, which is rightly about to focus on science as well as upon English and mathematics. 4 of 11 Inspection Report: Lark Hill Community Primary School, 4 °5 July 2007

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards and accelerate the learning of all children in English, mathematics and science, especially at Key Stage 2. • Improve the consistency of teaching and learning across the school. • Improve the effectiveness of subject leadership, particularly in science.

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Grade: 4

Although children make good progress in the Foundation Stage, achievement is no where near good enough throughout the rest of the school. Standards at the end of Year 6 are significantly below average and have been falling steadily year-on-year in all three of the core? subjects, English, mathematics and science. Recent improvements mean that many children are now making satisfactory progress in most years and most subjects although this has not yet overcome the legacy of past underachievement. Current work of a satisfactory standard was seen in mathematics and English. The work seen in many science folders, however, is of a low standard and science is not yet part of the systematic drive for improvement across the school. There are some instances where children do better than expected, for example, in reading and writing owing to the impact of the intensive support programme the school has taken part in throughout

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Grade: 3

Children's personal development and well-being are satisfactory. The children show positive attitudes to school and are friendly and polite. They behave well in lessons and around the school. Attendance is now broadly average when compared to similar local schools and the school is striving hard to improve it further. Children's social, moral, spiritual and cultural development is satisfactory. The well-understood discipline policy, consistently applied throughout the school, contributes well to children's social and moral development. Although children in the Foundation Stage have opportunities to explore other cultures this is fairly limited in Key Stages 1 and 2. Children understand the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles and the benefits of healthy eating and exercise. As one child so clearly expressed it, 'Before you exercise you need to warm up to make your muscles loose and after you exercise you need

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Grade: 3

to do relaxing stretches to cool down.' Children also know how to keep safe. They talked animatedly about 'Kerbcraft' (Road Safety), visits from the fire service before bonfire night and work done on 'Stranger Danger'. There is an established school council, which is democratically elected. However, children are not given sufficient autonomy through setting agendas, minute taking, managing a budget and having an influential voice in school decision-making. Children play a satisfactory role in the wider community. The school choir have performed in local venues including the 'Young Voices' Festival held at the MEN Arena. Children raise money for a range of charities both at home and abroad and show a good understanding of helping others less fortunate than themselves. The recent Young Enterprise Week was a success and helped children to understand the world of business. 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Lark Hill Community Primary School, 4 °5 July 2007

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Grade: 3

The overall quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory with some that is good. The poor achievement in all three of the core subjects, English, mathematics and science, is largely due to some weak teaching in the past, the legacy of which is still affecting the achievement of older children. Teachers are consistent in their approach, which is shown by good use of learning objectives, similar techniques for managing behaviour and increasingly effective use of interactive whiteboards. All teachers now encourage children to be more actively involved in their learning and to work more and more with 'talk partners'. As a result children make satisfactory progress in lessons, although there are still occasions where the pace of learning is uneven and expectations are not high enough. The school is working hard to improve the marking of children's work. Almost all teachers mark conscientiously, using positive comments, giving

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Grade: 3

reasons why the work is good and ways in which it could be improved. There are some science folders, however, where work is rarely marked and this is reflected in poor quality work. Teaching in the Foundation Stage, where children enjoy a range of imaginative and challenging activities is good. All groups of children make similar progress, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and those whose home language is other than English.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum is satisfactory overall and enables children to develop personal and social skills well. It meets statutory requirements, although it is relatively narrow. The school has moved towards a curriculum that is focused on improving children's basic skills. It has relatively few links between subjects and few opportunities to prepare children for life in a diverse society. The school's involvement in the Intensifying Support Programme is starting to have a positive impact on the delivery of literacy and numeracy. The introduction of 'Big Writing' is helping children to improve their writing skills, while information and communication technology (ICT) is used well to support other subjects. The curriculum is enriched by a range of visitors and educational visits, for example to the War Museum. There is a reasonable range of extra-curricular activities including choir, drama, chess and the energetic lively 'Freddy Fit'.

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Grade: 3

However, several children and parents would like to see more sporting activities reintroduced. The curriculum in the Foundation Stage is good. The good balance between child-initiated and adult-led activities helps to foster independent learning skills and resilience and encourages children to take an active part in determining their own learning.

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Grade: 3

Care, guidance and support are satisfactory overall. The school cares well for its children. The good relationships between adults and children help to create a positive working atmosphere. Children say that they feel safe in school and know who to turn to if they need help. They are confident that any concerns would be taken seriously and dealt with effectively. Children are encouraged to behave well through a consistently applied system of rewards and incentives. Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are well supported by individual education plans overseen by the highly committed special educational needs coordinator. The dedicated learning mentor works tirelessly and to very good effect to support vulnerable children and 6 of 11 Inspection Report: Lark Hill Community Primary School, 4 °5 July 2007 those whose home language is not English. Class targets are displayed clearly in all classes and

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Grade: 3

are evident in children's books. However, some children find it difficult to recall their individual targets. Children's progress is tracked carefully, helping teachers to identify those who are underachieving. Due to a temporary shortage of teaching assistants it has been difficult to follow this up effectively with the necessary extra support work. Child safeguarding procedures are in place but staff training on this issue has not been updated for many years.

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Grade: 3

The headteacher, senior staff and governors, with significant help and support from the local authority, have taken action and are beginning to raise standards in the school. Despite this recent positive action, the school has declined overall since the last inspection. However, the successes of recent improvements indicate that the school has satisfactory capacity for further improvement. Leadership, including that provided by the experienced and supportive governors, is realistic about the school's problems and is facing up to them squarely. The school agrees with inspectors that standards and achievement are not yet good enough. The priorities for improvement are appropriate. The school's current position is evaluated satisfactorily although the school has been over optimistic about its overall effectiveness. The leadership is still overcoming the effects of a legacy from the past that hinder its efforts, but leadership and

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Grade: 3

management are satisfactory overall. There are variations in the way subject leadership in the core subjects is developing. Increasingly consistent approaches in English and mathematics are having an impact on achievement and standards, but science is poorly coordinated. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: Lark Hill Community Primary School, 4 °5 July 2007 .

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Grade: 3

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: Lark Hill Community Primary School, 4 °5 July 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 3 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 3 The capacity to make any necessary improvements No Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection

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Achievement and standards

4 How well do learners achieve? 4 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 4 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

3 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The behaviour of learners 3 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 3 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?

3 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. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: Lark Hill Community Primary School, 4 °5 July 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? Yes Does this school require a notice to improve? 10 of 11 Inspection Report: Lark Hill Community Primary School, 4 °5 July 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Inspection of Lark Hill Community Primary School, Salford, M5 4BJ Thank you so much for welcoming us to your school. Mrs Ravey and I enjoyed meeting so many of you and taking part in your lessons. A particular thank you should go to those children who gave up some of their lunch time to talk with us. There are many things we liked about your school. It is well cared for, clean and attractive. All who work in the school are welcoming and friendly and look after you well. You enjoy being with each other and behave well in class. We agree with you that the teaching you receive is much improved recently. Your teachers prepare interesting tasks for you and make good use of the new interactive whiteboards and computers to make your work more exciting. We particularly like the way you now work so well with your 'talk partners'. We are impressed with how standards in reading and writing have begun to improve this year although there is much

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

work still to be done before they are good enough. We have asked the school to carry on with this and also to help you to improve your work in science. We are confident that your headteacher, other staff and governors can do what is needed. You can play your part in all of this by working even harder and making sure that that some of you take less time off school. 11 of 11 Inspection Report: Lark Hill Community Primary School, 4 °5 July 2007

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