Anderton Primary School

Anderton Primary School Inspection report

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119202 Unique Reference Number Lancashire Local Authority 301746 Inspection number 4 December 2007 Inspection date Shirley Herring 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 4 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 188 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Adrian Knott Chair Mrs Louise Minton Headteacher 1 October 2003 Date of previous school inspection Babylon Lane School address Adlington Chorley Lancashire PR6 9NN 01257 480551 Telephone number 01257 474945 Fax number

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4-11 Age group 4 December 2007 Inspection date 301746 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 one Additional Inspector. The school was visited by one inspector for one day. The overall effectiveness of the school and the following issues were investigated: pupils’ academic achievement and personal development, the quality of teaching and learning, the quality of care, guidance and support, as well as leadership and management. Evidence was gathered from the school’s self-evaluation, published assessment data, the school’s records and procedures, parents’ questionnaires, observation of the school at work and discussions with staff and pupils. 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 this report.

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Description of the school

Anderton Primary is a smaller than average primary school, serving a semi-rural village and surrounding areas. Almost all pupils are from a White British background and no pupil is at an early stage of learning English as an additional language. The number of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average and the number with a statement of special educational need is broadly average. The number of pupils eligible for free school meals is below average. The school has close links with pre-school providers and the local high school.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 9 Inspection Report: Anderton Primary School, 4 December 2007

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Grade: 2

This is a good school which provides an outstanding level of care for its pupils. This is overwhelmingly appreciated by parents, one of whom commented that concern and care for the pupils are given the highest priority. Pupils enter the school with a range of skills that are typical for their age. They make good progress during their time in school because of good teaching, very good attitudes and clear guidance which helps them improve. After several years when standards in national tests were above average in Year 6, standards fell to broadly average in 2007. Inspection evidence shows that the reasons for this fall in standards have been addressed and pupils now in Year 6 are working at a good level for their age. The school has set challenging targets for future years. In the 2007 national assessments at the end of Key Stage 1, standards were broadly average. Standards were above average in reading because teaching is good in this subject. Standards

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Grade: 2

were broadly average in writing, though the current emphasis on this aspect is leading to some improvement. Whilst the proportion reaching the expected level in mathematics was average, only a few pupils achieved the higher standard. This is due in part to a lack of pace and challenge for more able pupils in some lessons. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities achieve well because of the very caring environment and high level of support they receive. Personal development is outstanding. One parent wrote about the pleasure in watching a shy child blossom and gain the confidence to speak in front of the whole school. Pupils respond very well to the school’s high expectations. Behaviour in class and at playtime is exemplary. Attendance is very good. Pupils clearly enjoy school and join in enthusiastically in lessons and other activities. They are polite and confident and show increasing maturity as they move up

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Grade: 2

the school. Their respect for the rights of others was exemplified by some pupils when they explained the system for each class having a turn to play football in the limited playground space. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent. A strong influence in moral and social development is the excellent respect and co-operation displayed by all the adults. Cultural diversity is learned through the study of different faiths and the growing links with a school in Ghana. Pupils learn how to keep healthy and safe through the good programme for personal, social and health education. Pupils make an excellent contribution to the school community by, for example, being members of the school council. The high standards they achieve and the many opportunities for working effectively as teams prepare them very well for the future. Teaching is good and pupils learn well. Teachers use regular assessments to match activities

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Grade: 2

well to the needs of different groups of pupils. Skilled learning assistants give good support to individuals and small groups to help them make good progress. In the most effective lessons, activities are interesting so pupils become totally involved and learning moves at a fast pace. However, in a small number of mathematics lessons, the pace and level of questioning in whole class sessions do not challenge the more able pupils so they do not achieve as well as they can. The curriculum is good and meets the needs of pupils well. There is a suitable emphasis on developing literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT) skills so pupils achieve a good standard. There are many examples of pupils using and developing these skills in other subjects, for example when writing about the Olympic Games in history. The recent initiatives to develop writing skills are already having a positive impact. There is a good

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Grade: 2

range of additional activities to enhance learning, including a residential Outward Bound trip. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Anderton Primary School, 4 December 2007 The good programme for personal, social and health education contributes well to pupils’ personal development. Care, guidance and support are outstanding; this was acknowledged and praised in a large number of the parental questionnaires. All the recommended procedures for safeguarding children are in place and rigorously applied. There is particularly good support for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities so they are fully included in all activities and achieve well. Pupils are very well aware of their learning targets and these have proved particularly effective in bringing about recent improvements in writing. Leadership and management are good. Guided by the strong leadership and example of the headteacher, ably supported by the deputy headteacher and the senior management team,

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Grade: 2

staff work well together to evaluate the school’s work honestly and accurately. The information is used effectively to bring about improvements and recent initiatives have already led to an improvement in writing. The school took prompt actions to address the fall in standards in 2007 and all evidence indicates that pupils now in Year 6 are working at a good level. Governance is good. Governors are supportive but questioning, and have a good understanding of the needs of the school. There have been good improvements since the last inspection, particularly in developing ways to listen and respond to pupils’ views, which have contributed to pupils’ excellent personal development. The school’s good use of the analysis of its work indicates a good capacity to improve further.

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Grade: 2

Provision for children in the Foundation Stage is good, so they achieve well. They enter Reception with skills that are typical for their age and the majority reach the recommended goals by the time they enter Year 1. High priority is rightly given to developing children’s personal and social skills so that they develop independence and good attitudes to school from an early age. They make good progress in reading because phonic skills are taught systematically and well. However, the rate of learning in mathematics is less marked because the pace of activities is slower and so progress is satisfactory. The curriculum is based on a range of suitably practical activities across all areas, though the nature of the school site prohibits direct access to extend learning outdoors.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Improve levels of challenge and the pace of learning in mathematics in Reception and for more able pupils in Key Stage 1. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Anderton Primary School, 4 December 2007 .

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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. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: Anderton Primary School, 4 December 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? 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? 2 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

2 How well do learners achieve? 2 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

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

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and interests of learners?

1 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. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: Anderton Primary School, 4 December 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 2 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 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? 8 of 9 Inspection Report: Anderton Primary School, 4 December 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

5 December 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of Anderton Primary School, Lancashire, PR6 9NN Thank you for making me so welcome when I visited your school recently. I enjoyed talking to you in lessons and in the school council. I agree with you and your parents that Anderton Primary is a good school. In fact, some things about it are outstanding. You play your part in this by your excellent behaviour and hard work, and your very good attendance. All the adults take excellent care of you and give you good guidance to help you improve your work. Lessons are interesting and the teachers make good use of the whiteboards to help you understand what you have to do. There is always an adult at hand in lessons to give you the help that you need. This is why you do so well in school and reach a good standard in English, mathematics and science by the time you leave Year 6. When we inspect a school we try to suggest ways in which even a good school could be better.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

In Anderton Primary, I think that some pupils in Reception and Key Stage 1 might be helped to make more progress in mathematics. Best wishes to you all and well done. Shirley Herring Lead inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Anderton Primary School, 4 December 2007

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