Collis Primary School

102903 Unique Reference Number Richmond Upon Thames Local Authority 308158 Inspection number 22 May 2008 Inspection date Norma Ball 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 3 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 631 School The governing body Appropriate authority Ms Geraldine Locke Chair Mr David Butterfield Headteacher 11 October 2004 Date of previous school inspection Fairfax Road School address Teddington TW11 9BS 020 8977 1458 Telephone number 020 8977 6991 Fax number

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3-11 Age group 22 May 2008 Inspection date 308158 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 an Additional Inspector. The inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues: how well the school's leadership promotes achievement, the strengths in teaching and learning, the high quality of pupils' personal development, the care guidance and support pupils receive, and the richness of the curriculum. Evidence was gathered from visits to classrooms, discussions with staff and pupils and examination of school documents, especially assessment data, and parents' questionnaires. Other aspects of the school's work were not investigated in detail, but the inspector found no evidence to suggest that the schools own assessments, as given in its self-evaluation form, were not justified.

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Description of the school

Collis is a popular, very large primary school. Only a few pupils are eligible for free school meals. A very small proportion of pupils require extra help with their learning. Most pupils are of White British heritage and have English as their first language. The school had undergone an extensive rebuilding programme in 2005/6 and simultaneously has moved from two-form to three-form entry with consequent reorganisation of all class groups.

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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: Collis Primary School, 22 May 2008

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Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school where pupils' achievement is excellent. 'Our children are motivated to learn, enjoy having fun and absolutely love their primary school'. This was the opinion of one parent, but shared by many. The overwhelming majority of parents are rightly pleased with the education provided by Collis. They unanimously agree with the statement in the questionnaire: 'My child is making good progress because the teaching is good at school.' Pupils are proud of their school and enjoy the many experiences provided for them. One said, 'Subjects are fun, but challenging, so we are learning stuff everyday. We do such a lot and it's really good'. Pupils, in this highly successful school, thrive both personally and academically. This is because the school plans meticulously, closely follows pupils' individual progress, and promotes carefully all aspects of their personal development. The headteacher has a passion to provide the very

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Grade: 1

best education possible for all pupils so their time in school is an equal mix of challenge, fun and stimulation. Ably assisted by a very committed deputy and senior team, the headteacher leads a united staff who share a powerful determination to build on the school's existing strengths. All teachers have very high expectations of pupils' achievement and behaviour and set challenging but achievable targets. Staff carry out their responsibilities diligently and understand the importance of their roles in improving the school. The school's evaluation of its own performance is accurate and rigorous and there is no complacency. For example, assessment and tracking of pupils' progress is thorough but the school is seeking ways to improve it further. In particular, staff are exploring new tracking systems that are more sensitive to identifying very quickly and accurately any areas of underachievement. The school is extremely well placed for the future. Governors work in very

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Grade: 1

close partnership with the staff, supporting and challenging in equal measure. Financial and strategic planning is very secure and enabled the school to manage successfully the expansion to three-form entry alongside a major building and refurbishment programme. Children get an extremely good start in Nursery and Reception and rapid progress continues through the school. Consequently, pupils reach above average standards by Year 2 and leave Year 6 attaining standards that are exceptionally high. A dip in standards in 2006 coincided with a period of reorganisation and building redevelopment. Any areas of underachievement are addressed effectively. An example of this is the recent very successful initiative to improve writing skills, particularly for boys. The school has a calm and purposeful atmosphere to which all pupils respond extremely well. This means they concentrate on their work and want to do the very best they can. Their bubbly

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Grade: 1

enthusiasm and enjoyment of learning is very evident in their lessons. Teachers have very good subject knowledge and set high expectations which pupils meet confidently. Information and communication technology (ICT), and other resources are used very well to make lessons interesting and rich in experiences so pupils remain well motivated. Effective use of assessment information ensures that tasks are well-matched to pupils' abilities in each class. The small proportion of pupils with dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorders, behaviour, emotional and social, speech and communication needs make good progress from their individual low starting points. Their needs are identified quickly and accurately and they receive very effective support. The curriculum is well balanced and enriched by an extensive range of additional learning opportunities for pupils and supports the high quality teaching very well. Very well planned

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Grade: 1

4 of 9 Inspection Report: Collis Primary School, 22 May 2008 are the cross-curricular links, enabling pupils to use their ICT skills in particular in a range of lessons. Good links with secondary schools have led to secondary phase teachers contributing to science and art lessons adding even more interest to the work for pupils. A wide range of well-attended clubs extending music, sports and artistic skills are available for all age groups. Pupils have a very clear understanding of how to be safe and stay healthy. They can talk very knowledgably about healthy foods and have great respect for the environment. Pupils receive outstanding guidance and support, and staff take extremely good care of them. Pupils are very clear that if they have a problem they can confide their worries to staff. Requirements for their safety and protection are fully met. Pupils' work is marked regularly giving them clear guidance on how well they have done and on how they can improve to make

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Grade: 1

better progress. Pupils appreciate this and find their targets very helpful. They are also maturely involved in assessing their own learning and this further encourages independence and a sense of personal responsibility. The school promotes pupils' behaviour very well and, in most cases, behaviour is excellent. Pupils are involved fully in discussing behaviour codes and so meet well the high expectations set in school. Bullying and incidents of poor behaviour are extremely rare but pupils are confident that any issues will be dealt with quickly and fairly. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. The school has focused with great care and success in extending pupils' understanding of the rich variety of social and cultural heritages in modern Britain. Pupils of all ages make a very good contribution to their own school community in the responsibilities they undertake, especially in helping younger children settle by acting as buddies

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Grade: 1

or representing their views in the very active school council. They undertake these and other responsibilities with considerable pride and diligence. Caring for and respecting the needs of others is very much at the heart of this school community.

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Grade: 1

Children make an extremely good start to their learning in the Foundation Stage. They are well cared for, settle quickly and soon become confident learners because they are happy and enjoy their first experiences of school. Children who join the Nursery, and those who join in Reception, begin with levels of attainment that are close to those expected for their age. They make good progress particularly in social and emotional development and language and communication. A consistent focus on letter sounds and very creative play opportunities stimulate the imagination of both boys and girls so that they make very good use of their writing skills. When they start Year 1 most children are working securely within the goals expected of them. Children's progress is assessed very carefully and close links with parents, beginning with home visits, ensure they are kept fully informed of their child's development. The Foundation Stage is

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Grade: 1

extremely well led and staff work as a close, well-directed team.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that the current assessment and tracking system continues to be refined and is made even more rigorous so that pupils' progress is kept under constant review. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Collis Primary School, 22 May 2008 .

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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: Collis Primary School, 22 May 2008

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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? 1 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 1 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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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

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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 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: Collis Primary School, 22 May 2008

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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 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? 8 of 9 Inspection Report: Collis Primary School, 22 May 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

06 June 2008 Dear Pupils Inspection of Collis Primary School,Teddington,TW11 9BS Thank you for being so helpful and friendly when I visited your school yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you. You are proud of your school and are especially pleased with the new school building. You and your parents told me that your school was wonderful and I agree with you. I saw that you all get on very well together and are polite and kind to one another. There is a happy, lively family atmosphere in your school. Your teachers make sure that you work really hard and do as well as you can. I could see how much you enjoy your lessons and how eager you are to join in discussions and share ideas. Your work is very well marked and you are given lots of guidance with targets and advice from your teachers that help you to improve your work. Your reading, writing, mathematics and science skills are much better than most children

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

of your age. Everyone makes certain that you are well cared for and safe in school. There are a number of tasks you do around the school extremely well, such as helping other children and making playtimes happy and friendly. Your school council plays an important part in making your school an enjoyable place to be. You understand about how to keep safe and stay healthy. I was especially pleased to learn that you have good opportunities outside the school to take part in lots of clubs and go on really interesting trips. You enjoy these activities because they are fun but they are also an important part of your learning. Your headteacher and the other leaders in your school are doing a wonderful job in making sure the school keeps improving. There is just one thing that I have asked the headteacher and staff to do to make things even better. I know that teachers check carefully how well you are doing in your lessons and track

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

the progress you make. I have asked that they continue to improve this so that they can keep a very close watch on your progress and identify even more quickly when some of you need extra help. Thank you again for making my visit to your school so enjoyable. Yours sincerely Norma Ball Lead Inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Collis Primary School, 22 May 2008

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