Ladymount Catholic Primary School

Ladymount Catholic Primary School Inspection report

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105084 Unique Reference Number Wirral Local Authority 308761 Inspection number 25 June 2008 Inspection date Geoff Lawrence 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 Voluntary aided School category 4 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 244 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs B Sharp Chair Mrs S Lyonette Headteacher 24 May 2004 Date of previous school inspection Portal Road School address Pensby Wirral Merseyside CH61 5YD 0151 6484326 Telephone number 0 Fax number

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4-11 Age group 25 June 2008 Inspection date 308761 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 who evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues: teaching and learning; personal development and well-being; care, guidance and support; and the quality of leadership and management at all levels. Evidence was gathered from the school's self-evaluation form, nationally published assessment data, the school's own assessment records, relevant policies, observations of the school at work including visits to lessons, and analysis of parents' questionnaires. Discussions were held with staff, the chair of governors, pupils and parents. Other aspects of the school's work were not investigated in detail, but the inspector found no evidence to suggest that the school's own assessments, as given in its self-evaluation form, were not justified and these have been included where appropriate in the report.

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Description of the school

This average sized school serves an area of economic advantage. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. Children enter Reception with knowledge and skills in line with those typical for their age The percentage of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average, as is the percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals. A privately run pre-school Nursery class operates on the site. The school holds the following awards: Activemark and the Healthy Schools Award.

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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: Ladymount Catholic Primary School, 25 June 2008

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Grade: 2

Ladymount is a good school with outstanding features, and one to which parents are proud to send their children. Typical views are that, 'The school pushes the children academically whilst meeting their emotional and social needs,' and, 'My child loves school, she bounces into school everyday.' Pupils' personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is of the highest quality. Throughout their time at school they make outstanding progress in developing their personal skills and attributes. This helps them to develop into articulate, thoughtful and mature young people whose behaviour is impeccable in class and around the school. They are fully engaged in their lessons and work together exceptionally well. They feel safe and confident in school because, in their words, 'You have no need to worry because teachers will help you if you have a problem.' Consequently, attitudes to learning and their

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Grade: 2

enjoyment of school are outstanding. That is why attendance is well above average. They know how to stay safe and have a thorough understanding of healthy lifestyles. This is reflected in the choices they make at lunchtime and the high numbers that take part enthusiastically in the many sporting activities on offer. School council members speak passionately about how they have helped to make changes in the school, such as taking part in 'tasting sessions' to review proposed alterations to the school lunch menu. They have a well developed social conscience and fully understand their responsibilities to each other in school and in the wider community and enjoy raising funds for numerous charities. They are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Pupils reach above average standards in English and mathematics, and well above average standards in science by the end of Year 6. This represents good achievement. Standards in Key

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Grade: 2

Stage 1 declined a little two years ago, but prompt and effective action taken by the school reversed the trend very quickly so that standards now are above average at the end of Year 2. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities achieve outstandingly well because of specialist teaching and because the support they receive is tailored specifically to meet their needs. Teaching and learning are effective because everyone works very hard to ensure that the pupils enjoy lessons. As a result, pupils respond with real enthusiasm. Planning and lesson preparation are thorough and ensure that work in class is well tailored to individual needs. Lessons have an obvious focus, which teachers share with pupils. This means that pupils are very clear about what they have to do and what they are aiming to achieve. Information and communication technology aids pupils' enjoyment of learning. Some commented, 'You can do so much more

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Grade: 2

now because the computers are faster.' The school's assessment practice is well established and rigorous. As a result, most pupils have a good understanding of their targets. However, the marking of their work varies between subjects and classes and does not always show pupils how to improve. Pupils have many interesting things to do. The school has made a positive start at integrating Spanish into the already good curriculum. Furthermore, pupils who are recognised as more able are given extension work within the curriculum to suit their needs, which they say is 'challenging'. The care, guidance and support which pupils receive are outstanding and child protection procedures are fully in place. All adults in the school are concerned to provide the very best 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Ladymount Catholic Primary School, 25 June 2008 for the pupils in their care. They emphasise strongly the importance of academic and personal

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Grade: 2

well-being in each individual. Leadership and management are of the highest quality. They are judged highly by the inspection because they have been so effective in many areas since 2004. As a result, the school has gained a very accurate picture of its performance. There have been some notable improvements in pupils' personal development and teaching and learning. Moreover, standards have risen strongly over the three years. Challenging targets have often been surpassed. The headteacher has been very successful in developing staff as leaders and they have become highly motivated. Moreover, the governing body holds the leadership rigorously to account. Partnerships with others have not only contributed significantly to pupils' personal development but also to the excellent progress made by those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Ladymount is, without doubt, a school that lives up to its mission statement, 'To strive to provide a happy and secure

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Grade: 2

environment where children are challenged to achieve academically, but not at the expense of losing their identity as individuals.' Based on recent improvements, the school has an outstanding capacity to improve further.

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Grade: 2

Good communication with parents and a close liaison with on-site pre-school Nursery ensures that staff know the children well before they enter school and this helps them to settle very quickly. Good teaching helps children make good progress in all areas of learning, especially in language and personal development. Therefore, they leave the Foundation Stage with skills and knowledge above those typical for their age. Personal development has a high priority and children very quickly become self-assured. This is demonstrated by their confidence to show visitors what they are doing and just how much they are enjoying it. Leadership and management are good, and assessment systems are robust with adults' observations of children contributing to the overall picture of their development and achievement. Partnerships with parents are strong and many support their children's learning by helping in the classroom or by hearing

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Grade: 2

their children read at home. Classroom activities are well planned but the outdoor curriculum is underdeveloped. This restricts opportunities for children to practise and extend their experiences in all areas of learning.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that marking clearly identifies how pupils are to improve their work.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Enhance the learning experiences of children in the Foundation Stage through more engaging and purposeful outdoor activities. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Ladymount Catholic Primary School, 25 June 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: Ladymount Catholic Primary School, 25 June 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? 2 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 1 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 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: Ladymount Catholic Primary School, 25 June 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: Ladymount Catholic Primary School, 25 June 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Inspection of Ladymount Catholic Primary School, Wirral, CH61 5YD Thank you for making me welcome during the recent inspection. I really enjoyed talking to you and seeing you work. I was impressed by your excellent behaviour and must tell you that you are the friendliest group of children I have met. It was so nice that everyone knew my name and spoke to me. It made me feel extremely welcome. I enjoyed my meeting with the school council and finding out about the things you liked in school. Your pride in the school shone through your comments and you, and most of your parents, are right in thinking you go to a good school. What is more, it has some excellent features. Those responsible for leading and managing the school do their job very well indeed. Staff care deeply for you and they work very hard not only to help you learn as much as you can but to help you to develop into very mature and confident people. You told me your teachers find ways to

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

make learning fun and help you to reach good standards in your work. You are right here, too. You also know what a healthy lifestyle is and how to keep yourself and others safe. Within all of its good work, there are two things the school could do to help you make your school even better. I have asked all the teachers that when they mark your books they make it very clear to you what you have to do next to improve your work. I have also asked the adults in the Foundation Stage to arrange more outdoor activities for the children in that class. Thank you once again for helping me. I enjoyed my time with you and your teachers. I hope you that you continue to work hard and enjoy school. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Ladymount Catholic Primary School, 25 June 2008

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