Setting

Mr G Wallace Headteacher Woodberry Down Community Primary School Woodberry Grove Finsbury Park LONDON N4 1SY

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Modern languages

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation, and that of your staff and pupils, during my visit on 18 September to look at work in modern languages.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Modern languages

As outlined in my initial letter, as well as looking at key areas of the subject, the visit had a particular focus on implementing languages entitlement.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Modern languages

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our national evaluation and reporting. Published reports are likely to list the names of the contributing institutions, but individual institutions will not be identified in the main text. All feedback letters will be published on the Ofsted website at the end of each half-term.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Modern languages

The evidence used to inform the judgements made included: interviews with staff and pupils, scrutiny of relevant documentation and observation of one lesson.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Modern languages

The overall effectiveness of modern languages was judged to be good.

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Achievement and standards

 As this survey inspection was carried out in the first month of introducing modern languages it is not possible to judge standards. Pupils have, however, made good progress in speaking and listening in the short time they have been learning French.  They speak with confidence and with good accents.  They show positive attitudes to the new language and are keen to show off what they can already say. Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404045 F 020 7421 6644 www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Quality of teaching and learning of subject

 The teaching in the lesson observed was good. The teacher provides a good model of spoken French and endeavours to improve pupils’ listening skills by using as much target language as possible.  Planning is good: objectives are differentiated and a range of activities and groupings used.  Modelling is effective but could be used even more to further build pupils’ independent oral confidence.  Other adults in the classroom are prepared and deployed well and help ensure group activities and support are matched well to pupils’ needs.  Assessment is identified well in lesson plans.

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Quality of curriculum

 The quality of curriculum planning is good. Good use has been made of the QCA schemes of work and there are targets for coverage and pupil achievement. No use has yet been made of the Key Stage 2 Framework for modern foreign languages.

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Leadership and management of subject

 The leadership and management of the subject by the senior team are outstanding.  Planning for the implementation of modern languages has been extremely well considered. Strategic plans have the enthusiastic support of the whole school and the school has a very clear rationale for the staged introduction of the subject and has identified training needs and development for all who are to be involved. Very careful thought and planning has been given to the sustainability of this new curriculum area.  Systems for monitoring are used very effectively across the school although not yet to review provision in modern languages.

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Implementing languages entitlement

 Although at an early stage, progress towards entitlement is good as a result of your coherent strategic approach.

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Inclusion

 All pupils at both Key Stages 1 and 2 are well involved. Planning caters well for groups with differing needs.  The school links the teaching of French well to the teaching of English as an Additional Language to ensure that all pupils, irrespective of their home language, can access the modern language.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

 planning for the introduction of reading and writing  considering how to use the KS2 Framework to extend the curriculum  planning for transition to secondary schools.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop modern languages in the school.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

As I explained in my previous letter, a copy of this letter will be sent to your local authority and will be published on Ofsted’s website. It will also be available to the team for your next institutional inspection.

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