Setting

Mrs L Howling Headteacher Hillcrest Primary School Bexwell Road Downham Market Norfolk PE38 9ND

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Religious Education

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation, and that of your staff, during my visit on 22 November 2006 to look at work in RE.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Religious Education

As outlined in my initial letter, as well as looking at key areas of the subject, the visit had a particular focus on the implementation and impact of the 2005 Norfolk Agreed Syllabus.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Religious Education

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 – Religious Education

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 one Key Stage 2 lesson.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Religious Education

The overall effectiveness of RE was judged to be good, based on improvements since the last inspection, and the potential in the school for further development in the subject.

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Achievement and standards

Achievement and standards in RE are good.

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Achievement and standards

 Pupils generally achieve well in RE, in line with their overall performance in core subjects, particularly in English. They make good progress across the key stages as a result of good teaching and a well-planned curriculum. Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404045 F 020 7421 6855 www.ofsted.gov.uk Their overall standards at the end of Key Stage 2 are broadly in line with the expectations set out in the agreed syllabus.  The introduction of the planned assessment structure should provide a more accurate measure of pupil attainment in future, and establish the basis for reporting on levels in the subject at the end of Key Stage 2, as required by the agreed syllabus.

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Quality of teaching and learning in RE

The quality of teaching and learning in RE is good.

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Quality of teaching and learning in RE

 RE is taught well in this school, as seen in the observed lesson. The quality of teaching and learning is based on detailed and thoughtful planning which supports clear objectives and activities. These in turn are well matched to the needs and abilities of pupils and they enjoy their lessons.  A newly introduced programme of assessment is designed to support learning effectively. It is set to provide a clearer basis than has been the case in the past for making judgements about pupils’ progress against level descriptors, and for target setting, in the subject.

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Quality of curriculum

 The curriculum meets the requirements for the subject set out in the agreed syllabus. The provision for RE matches directly the provision for the foundation subjects. The programme ensures that effective continuity and progression are built into the curriculum and that RE contributes to pupils’ wider learning and developing skills, based on the principles of excellence and enjoyment in the whole curriculum.

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Leadership and management of RE

Leadership and management of RE are good.

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Leadership and management of RE

 Self-evaluation and target setting for the subject has been carried out effectively in the light of the new agreed syllabus and of curriculum developments in the school as a whole. The subject leader continues to acquire further knowledge and skills through participating in an informal training group after school, and supports staff in the development of their medium term plans with background information and suggestions for resources. Teachers themselves are also keen to develop their subject expertise through the internet. Monitoring and evaluation of teaching and learning are included in the whole school development plan.

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Implementation of the agreed syllabus

 The school is well ahead with the implementation of the agreed syllabus, as a result of the subject leader’s attendance at a full day course presented by the Local Authority prior to the launch of the syllabus. The principles of the syllabus have been discussed by senior management and disseminated to staff. The broad requirements of the programmes of study have been integrated into the school’s ‘excellence and enjoyment’ programme. Level descriptors are being used this term to support the main end-of-unit assessment.

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Inclusion

 Those of differing levels of ability are well supported in their learning and participate actively in raising and answering questions.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

 to ensure that the school’s schemes of work for RE meet the requirements of breadth and depth in both subject attainment targets set out in the agreed syllabus programmes of study  to ensure that the assessment of RE supports judgements on both subject attainment targets  to develop an effective programme of monitoring and evaluating teaching and learning in the subject.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop RE 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 Standing Advisory Council for RE, 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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