Clitheroe Brookside Primary School

Clitheroe Brookside Primary School Inspection report

p.1

119321 Unique Reference Number Lancashire Local Authority 301715 Inspection number 29 November 2007 Inspection date David Earley Reporting inspector

p.1

This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

p.1

Primary Type of school Community School category 4 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 207 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Patrick O'Neill Chair Mr Graham Claydon Headteacher 1 June 2003 Date of previous school inspection Bright Street School address Clitheroe Lancashire BB7 1NW 01200 425564 Telephone number 01200 425564 Fax number

p.1

4-11 Age group 29 November 2007 Inspection date 301715 Inspection number .

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Introduction

The inspection was carried out by an Additional Inspector. The Inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues: progress in Key Stage 1, the extent to which skills in literacy and numeracy are extended by use in other subjects, and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to support and extend the curriculum. Evidence was gathered from the observation of lessons, discussions with staff, pupils and governors, looking at pupils’ work, school assessment data and documentation. Other aspects of the school’s work were not investigated in detail, but inspectors found no evidence to suggest that the school’s own assessments, as given in its self-evaluation, were not justified, and these have been included where appropriate in the report.

p.3

Description of the school

This is an average sized school close to the centre of Clitheroe. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for free school meals is below average. Most pupils are of White British origin. A small number of pupils learn English as an additional language. The school has recently achieved the National Healthy Schools Standard.

p.3

Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 10 Inspection Report: Clitheroe Brookside Primary School, 29 November 2007

p.3

Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school which gives excellent value for money. The headteacher provides exemplary leadership and has an exceptionally clear vision for raising standards and improving provision. This is shared by staff and governors and is significant in promoting the pupils’ high achievement and excellent personal development. Most parents have very positive views of the school. A parent commented that, ‘Brookside was absolutely the right place to choose for our child. The atmosphere is fantastic.’ Achievement is excellent and standards are consistently high. When children enter the Foundation Stage, although standards vary considerably from year to year, standards are generally in line with what would be expected for children of this age. Most children make rapid progress in the Foundation Stage so that by the time they reach Year1 most exceed the goals expected for their age. This excellent progress continues in Key Stage 1. The results of the

p.4

Grade: 1

2007 assessments show that pupils were performing at levels significantly above average. School data and inspection evidence show that pupils in the current Year 2 are on track to reach marginally above average standards. This represents excellent achievement because there is a high proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities in this group and they started school with a lower than usual starting point. In Key Stage 2, the excellent achievement continues which is reflected in the results of the national tests. In 2006, these were significantly above average as they had been for the previous four years. The results of the tests in 2007 show that standards improved even further on the previous year and were very high. Inspection evidence and school data show that these high standards are maintained and pupils in the current Year 6 are on track to reach very high standards. Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development,

p.4

Grade: 1

is excellent. Pupils have very positive attitudes to their learning and this is an important factor in their high standards. Attendance is above average and pupils really enjoy coming to school because relationships are excellent and work is interesting and challenging. Pupils have an excellent understanding of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle because there are many opportunities to eat healthily and take exercise. Behaviour is excellent and, because they help to formulate their own class rules, pupils have a very good understanding of the differences between right and wrong. Pupils are very well prepared for the next stage in their education and have a very good understanding of how to develop enterprise skills. They work with representatives from business and industry, and budget and organise fund raising activities for charity. Pupils say that they feel safe and well cared for and they are generally very polite and

p.4

Grade: 1

considerate. The school council plays an important role in helping to improve facilities for their peers. Pupils are very keen and eager to take on responsibilities around school. For example, older pupils act as trained play leaders and pupils help with the smooth running of the school and in such activities as recycling. They have many opportunities to take part in community events such as the Sheep Festival and Torchlight Procession. The quality of teaching and learning is excellent and this is why pupils make excellent progress. Teachers make extremely good use of assessment in order to ensure that pupils are appropriately challenged. Typically, lessons are lively and interesting so that pupils want to learn. For example, very good use of humour was made in a Year 6 lesson to extend understanding of active and passive sentences. Teaching assistants work very closely with teachers and this is important in

p.4

Grade: 1

the very good support all pupils receive. This is particularly effective in the support of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and for pupils who learn English as an additional 4 of 10 Inspection Report: Clitheroe Brookside Primary School, 29 November 2007 language, so that they make the same progress as their peers. Pupils are challenged to extend their skills because teachers have very good subject knowledge and make excellent use of questions. Relationships are excellent and this encourages pupils to engage in discussions with teachers and their peers so that they become confident learners. Teachers share learning objectives with pupils who are asked to reflect on how well these have been achieved. As a result, pupils have a very clear understanding of their own learning. The curriculum is excellent. It is rich and stimulating and helps to make learning irresistible and to extend pupils’ horizons. There is a wide range of extra-curricular activities and lots of visits

p.4

Grade: 1

and visitors so that pupils get plenty of ‘hands-on’ experience and see a relevance and purpose to their learning. There is a very good focus on developing skills of literacy and numeracy. This is enhanced by the many opportunities for pupils to extend their skills in other subjects. The extensive facilities for ICT are used very well in all subjects so that pupils’ skills and understanding in many subjects are reinforced and extended. Resources are very good. For example, a kiln and a lathe provide additional opportunities for pupils’ learning. An excellent programme of personal, social and health education helps pupils to understand how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Very good links with local secondary schools ensure that the transfer to the next stage of education is usually an extremely smooth one. Excellent care, guidance and support help to underline the high standards and excellent personal development. This is a very caring school with a clear determination to leave no stone unturned

p.5

Grade: 1

in the drive to provide the best for each pupil. All pupils, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and those who learn English as an additional language, are very well supported academically and personally. There are very strong links between home and school. A parent commented that, ‘A strong relationship between teachers and parents is a major strength of Brookside School.’ Child protection arrangements, risk assessments and procedures for safeguarding children are in place. There are very effective systems for assessing and tracking progress. These lead to the provision of additional support where needed and to clear targets for improvement which are well known by pupils and teachers. Leadership and management are excellent. The headteacher’s vision and commitment create a very positive approach to learning which is shared by staff and governors. This is significant in pupils’ high achievement and excellent personal development. Staff throughout the school

p.5

Grade: 1

work very closely with each other. They share their expertise and, as a result, meet and often exceed the challenging targets they set for themselves and the pupils. The school’s evaluation of its performance is excellent and this leads to very clear strategic planning in which staff and governors are closely involved. Pupils’ progress is very carefully analysed in order to identify any areas of weakness and this contributes to the setting of challenging targets for their improvement. For example, writing was identified as an area for improvement and this led to strategies which raised standards. Governance is excellent. Governors know the school very well and are involved in training in order to extend their skills. They are in very close contact with the school and know staff and pupils very well. They are very supportive and very conscientious in helping to hold the school to account for its performance. The school manages its budget very astutely in order to help

p.5

Grade: 1

to raise standards and improve provision. For example, substantial improvements have been made to the accommodation and the ICT provision which have led to improved standards. Issues from the previous inspection have been successfully addressed. Excellent leadership and evaluation of performance and a shared determination to raise standards and improve provision give the school an excellent capacity to improve in future. 5 of 10 Inspection Report: Clitheroe Brookside Primary School, 29 November 2007

p.5

Grade: 1

Provision in the Foundation Stage is excellent. Relationships are excellent and children settle in very quickly and rapidly develop confidence and independence. Children are eager to come to school and want to learn because lessons are stimulating and exciting. This results in children making excellent progress and provides a very secure basis for future learning. Teaching in the Foundation Stage is excellent. Staff keep very careful records of children’s progress and this helps them ensure that they are challenged at the appropriate levels of difficulty. As a result, lessons are very well planned with a good balance between teacher direction and pupil choice. The Foundation Stage is very well led and, because there are close links with Key Stage 1, children are very well prepared for the next stage in their education.

p.6

What the school should do to improve further

■ There are no significant areas for improvement. 6 of 10 Inspection Report: Clitheroe Brookside Primary School, 29 November 2007 .

p.6

What the school should do to improve further

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 7 of 10 Inspection Report: Clitheroe Brookside Primary School, 29 November 2007

p.7

Inspection judgements

School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

p.8

Overall effectiveness

How effective, efficient and inclusive is the provision of education, integrated care and any extended services in meeting the needs of learners? Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 1 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 1 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

p.8

Achievement and standards

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

p.8

learners?

1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 1 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 How well learners enjoy their education 2 The attendance of learners 1 The behaviour of learners 1 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

p.8

and interests of learners?

1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

p.8

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. 8 of 10 Inspection Report: Clitheroe Brookside Primary School, 29 November 2007

p.8

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 1 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 1 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 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? 9 of 10 Inspection Report: Clitheroe Brookside Primary School, 29 November 2007

p.9

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

30 November 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of Clitheroe Brookside Primary School, Lancashire, BB71NW Thank you for making me so welcome when I came to visit. Your school is outstanding. I enjoyed talking to you and was very impressed by your kindness and courtesy. I was also impressed by the way you all know about the importance of taking plenty of exercise and eating healthily in order to stay fit. The school council do a very good job in helping to improve the school and you are all very helpful in many ways with jobs around the school. You take part in lots of events in the local area such as the Sheep Festival and the Torchlight Procession. I was pleased to learn that you help to organise fund raising for charities and that you learn about how businesses are run. These are some of the things your school does very well:

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ you do really well at your work and your behaviour is excellent

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ teaching is excellent so that lessons are very interesting and you are eager to learn

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ teachers and governors work very well together to improve the school

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ there are lots of interesting trips and visitors and plenty to do after school.

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Very importantly, your teachers and governors know exactly what they need to do to make your school even better. Thank you again for making me so welcome. Yours sincerely David Earley. Lead inspector 10 of 10 Inspection Report: Clitheroe Brookside Primary School, 29 November 2007

p.10