Setting

Mr Brown Headteacher Hadrian Primary School Baring Street South Shields Tyne and Wear NE33 2BB

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Ofsted survey inspection programme - English

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation, and that of your staff, during my visit on 18 September 2006 to inspect work in English.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme - English

As outlined in my initial letter, as well as looking at key areas of the subject the visit had a particular focus on our current survey theme: provision for poetry. 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.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme - English

The evidence used to inform the judgements made included: interviews with staff and pupils, scrutiny of relevant documentation, analysis of pupils’ work and observation of three lessons. The overall effectiveness of the English in your school was judged to be good.

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Achievement and standards

 Standards of attainment in English have been well above average for some years, and the school has evidence that they have improved after a dip in 2005, when they were in line with expectations nationally.  Pupils write confidently and accurately for a range of purposes, but are less confident in talking about their work with partners.  Pupils enjoy English and work hard in lessons. 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

The quality of teaching and learning is good.

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Quality of teaching and learning

 Lively activities and open questioning engaged the pupils effectively. This, with careful planning for different needs, ensured that, in most of the lessons seen during the visit, pupils made good progress.  Teachers involve pupils in assessment, and give them clear success criteria. Pupils understand their targets, though feedback sometimes does not help them enough to know what to do next.

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Quality of curriculum

 Pupils are encouraged to learn about language and literature by having a go. Wherever possible, work is given a real context.  Good planning ensures pupils experience the breadth of English, at levels of challenge which stretch them.

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Leadership and management of English

Leadership and management of English are good.

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Leadership and management of English

 Good monitoring, analysis of outcomes and planning have led to methodical and consistent strategies for improvement.  Strategies to improve planning for progression and assessment are well understood and applied by most staff.

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Subject focus: provision for poetry

 Pupils enjoy reading and writing poems. They can remember poems and poets they have encountered, and are proud when their poems are published for a wider audience.  Poetry plays a prominent part in the scheme of work for all age groups, with focus units each half term. Pupils become familiar with poetic devices and forms. They enjoy the active approaches to poetry, which include dramatic exploration and encouragement to be inventive with words.

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Inclusion

 Accurate and regular assessment has ensured that pupils’ progress is monitored closely. Those needing extra support with English are identified at an early stage. They make good progress in lessons as a result of carefully differentiated tasks and resources.  In order to boost the performance of boys at Key Stage 1 and 2, the school is placing more emphasis on speaking and listening activities.

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Areas for improvement

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

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Areas for improvement

 improving the quality of speaking and listening, particularly between literacy partners or small groups  ensuring that feedback helps pupils understand what they need to do next.

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Areas for improvement

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop English.

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Areas for improvement

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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