St Matthew's CofE Primary School

St Matthew's CofE Infant School Inspection report

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105709 Unique Reference Number Oldham Local Authority 308927 Inspection number 14 December 2007 Inspection date Robert Robinson 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 °7 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 179 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Roy Last Chair Mrs P Shepherd Headteacher 10 November 2003 Date of previous school inspection Chadderton Hall Road School address Chadderton Oldham Lancashire OL9 9BN 0161 6249829 Telephone number 0161 6249829 Fax number

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4-7 Age group 14 December 2007 Inspection date 308927 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 inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues: achievement and standards, teaching, the Foundation Stage (Reception) and leadership and management. The inspector gathered evidence from lesson observations, examination of pupils' work, assessment data, interviews and documents. 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, were not justified, and these have been included where appropriate in this report.

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Description of the school

This is a small primary school. Almost all pupils are of White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average. The socio-economic circumstances of the area are above average. There has been a change of headteacher and deputy headteacher since the last inspection. The school has gained the Healthy School 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: St Matthew's CofE Infant School, 14 December 2007

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Grade: 1

St Matthew's provides an outstanding education for its pupils. Strong leadership and management coupled with extremely good quality teaching result in pupils' high levels of achievement and standards that have been well above average since the last inspection. Pupils are exceptionally well prepared for their future education. This is because of their superb personal development and their great enjoyment of learning. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. Parents and pupils are proud of the school. Parental comments praise all aspects of the school's work reflecting on the advantages to their children. A typical remark included, 'St Matthew's is a wonderful school that inspires children to enjoy learning.' Pupils achieve exceptionally well throughout the school because teaching is consistently good or better. All groups of pupils are inspired by an extremely well thought out curriculum that

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Grade: 1

captures their interest. Wonderful relationships between pupils and between pupils and staff help lessons to move at a fast pace. Pupils behave superbly and have extremely positive attitudes to learning. Subjects are skilfully linked with a strong emphasis on developing basic skills in English and mathematics. Learning is enjoyable and purposeful. As pupils stated, 'Lessons are fun.' Information and communication technology is used very effectively to aid teaching and learning. Discussions are encouraged and pupils' responses to questions are valued. Very detailed assessment of pupils' progress enables staff to plan precisely the next steps in pupils' learning. High calibre teaching assistants are used most effectively to push on pupils' learning, particularly those who are identified with learning difficulties or those at risk of underachieving. Marking of pupils' work is thorough, although its quality varies between classes. Some teachers' comments

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Grade: 1

are too complimentary and do not explain how pupils can improve. Others' comments dwell too keenly on how work can be improved and do not praise effort sufficiently. Vibrant displays celebrate pupils' work and classrooms are attractive and stimulating. The reason for the undoubted success of the school can be attributed to the first-rate leadership by the headteacher, deputy headteacher, staff and governors. The major strengths in all aspects in the school's work reported at the last inspection have been maintained and built upon. Staff and governors work extremely well together and this benefits the pupils. Links with parents, other schools, the local church and the community are strong. Systems to check pupils' progress are very thorough and used very effectively to set targets for pupils and to highlight where additional help is needed. Managers at all levels meet the high expectations set for them to be

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Grade: 1

accountable for pupils' standards and achievements. The professional development of all staff is given a high profile. The school has a deep understanding of its strengths and areas for development, though its view of itself is rather modest because it is always seeking to improve. St Matthew's many exceptional strengths and its track record over numerous years provides it with a superb capacity to continue to improve.

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Grade: 1

The quality of leadership, provision and standards achieved are outstanding in the Reception class. Children enter the school from a very wide range of pre-school providers. Overall, standards on entry are above what is expected for children of this age, although children's personal, social and emotional development is similar. The Foundation Stage is very well organised and provides children with a stimulating range of activities in all areas of their learning, both indoors and 4 of 9 Inspection Report: St Matthew's CofE Infant School, 14 December 2007 outdoors. Children quickly settle into school routines and parents are actively involved in their children's learning. High quality teaching and an interesting curriculum help the children to make speedy progress. Members of staff check children's attainment in great detail and match future learning extremely well to individuals' needs. By the end of Reception, standards are

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Grade: 1

well above expectations for children of this age.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that the marking of work provides pupils with clearer details of how well they have done and what they must do to improve further. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: St Matthew's CofE Infant School, 14 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: St Matthew's CofE Infant School, 14 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? 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: St Matthew's CofE Infant School, 14 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 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: St Matthew's CofE Infant School, 14 December 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

I enjoyed the day I spent in your school. It was a privilege to inspect St Matthew's as it provides you with an outstanding education. This is because it is led and managed exceptionally well by your headteacher and deputy headteacher. They are helped really well by the other staff and the governors. Your parents are very pleased that you make exceptionally good progress during the time you are at St Matthew's. I was very impressed by your superb behaviour and how interested you were in your lessons. You told me that you enjoy being at school, feel safe and are proud of your school. Your attendance is really good - so keep it up. Staff look after you extremely well and I was pleased that you all get on so well together. The standard of your work by the time you leave Year 2 is high. This is because you are taught so well and you make really quick progress in your learning. Your school knows what it must do to continue to improve. However, I have asked

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

the teachers when they mark your work to give you clearer comments of how well you have done and what you must do to improve further. I appreciated talking to you about your work and watching you learn. I know that you will continue to work with the staff and your headteacher to help them to continue to improve the school. I wish you well for the future. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: St Matthew's CofE Infant School, 14 December 2007

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