St Vincent's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale

St Vincent's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale Inspection report

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105831 Unique Reference Number Rochdale Local Authority 308965 Inspection number 11 December 2007 Inspection date Arthur Markham 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 383 School The governing body Appropriate authority Fr P Brindle Chair Mr Eamonn Scott Headteacher 7 July 2003 Date of previous school inspection Edenfield Road School address Norden Rochdale Lancashire OL12 7QL 01706 642469 Telephone number 01706 710404 Fax number

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4-11 Age group 11 December 2007 Inspection date 308965 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: the impact of teaching on the progress made by pupils, the quality of pupils' personal development and well-being and its impact on learning, and the effectiveness of all levels of leadership and management. Evidence was gathered from the analysis of pupils' test results, scrutiny of samples of their work, lesson observations, observations of pupils at break and lunchtime, discussions with pupils, staff and governors, school documentation 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 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 large school serves the local parish, with pupils coming from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. The proportion of pupils claiming free school meals is lower than that in most schools, as is the number with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The vast majority of pupils are White British with only a small number from minority ethnic groups; few of these are at an early stage of learning English. The school has been awarded the bronze Eco School award and the information and communication technology (ICT) mark.

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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 Vincent's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale, 11 December 2007

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Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school, which gives excellent value for money. It has a very warm and welcoming atmosphere with bright displays creating a vibrant learning environment. Parents rate the school highly. Comments such as, 'An excellent school with top class teachers who care very much about the well-being of the children' and 'A happy school which nurtures the whole child' typify their views. Pupils say they thoroughly enjoy school and the wide range of learning experiences presented to them. They think the school is great and say they are proud to attend St Vincent's because it is so highly thought of in the locality. They enjoy excellent relationships with their teachers and their behaviour is exemplary. Pupils say the school has 'a nice atmosphere' in which they feel safe and secure. The excellent pastoral care provided is matched by the high quality academic guidance given to them. Pupils have a very clear awareness of their academic targets

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Grade: 1

and appreciate greatly the way that the teachers' marking of their work helps them to understand how they can improve. They say how much they like their teachers and the way they help them to learn. A great strength of the school is the way that it fosters pupils' personal development and well-being. They become increasingly mature and sensible as they progress through the school and have excellent attitudes to learning. Older pupils take care of younger ones on the playground. In lessons pupils' caring concern for others is typified by the way that they relate to members of their class with disabilities. They patiently wait for them to complete tasks and generously share in their success. Pupils' collections for charities are further evidence of the level of concern they show for others. Their understanding of the need for healthy lifestyles is outstanding. Pupils play an important part in the life of the school through the work of the

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Grade: 1

school council and are pleased that their views are taken into account. The excellent development of their interpersonal skills together with their very good basic skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT prepare them very well for the next stage in their education. The close attention given to developing their self-esteem so that they become confident learners is a key factor in the high standards they achieve. The consequence of this very positive approach to school among pupils is that they achieve outstandingly well. Throughout the school pupils' eager and lively faces in lessons reflect their enthusiasm for learning. The quality of teaching is outstanding and the rich curriculum presents them with an exciting diet of learning experiences. Lessons are very well planned with activities that match pupils' abilities well. Lively, clear explanations, linked to the effective use of questions, ensure that pupils understand what they have to do. Excellent use of interactive

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Grade: 1

whiteboards stimulates pupils. As a result, classrooms are quiet, orderly places where pupils work hard and make very good progress. Children make a very good start in the Reception classes. This rate of progress continues throughout Years 1 and 2 so that, by the end of Year 2, pupils reach standards that are above average in reading, writing and mathematics, and have been so for the last five years. By the end of Year 6, standards are well above national averages overall and, again, have been so during the last five years. The reason for a dip in pupils' performance in English in 2006 was accurately identified. As a result, a determined drive was given to improving the quality of their writing, which was successful in lifting standards in English back to a level well above average in 2007. This reflects the school's determination not to become complacent and the headteacher's avowed goal to enable all pupils to reach the

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Grade: 1

highest standards possible. The school is particularly good at meeting the needs of pupils with 4 of 9 Inspection Report: St Vincent's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale, 11 December 2007 learning difficulties and/or disabilities and the few learning English as an additional language. As a result they make very good progress. Similarly the more capable pupils are suitably challenged and achieve very well as evidenced by the high proportion who achieve the higher Level 5 in national tests at Year 6. The outstanding leadership and management of the headteacher are vital ingredients in the success of this school. His strong innovative leadership provides a clear direction to the staff who support him very well. Management structures are very well organised. The senior management team includes administration staff and teaching support staff. Staff have been organised into curriculum groups in order to further develop the school's already very good

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Grade: 1

monitoring and evaluation procedures. Coordinators monitor their areas of responsibility closely. The school consequently has a very clear understanding of its performance and is continually striving to improve. Governors are an important part of the team and meet their responsibilities well. They monitor the work of the school closely and provide good support and challenge. Taking all this into account the school has an excellent capacity to continue to improve.

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Grade: 1

The Foundation Stage (Reception Year) is very well led and managed, and provision is excellent. The two classes work together very well and thoughtful induction arrangements ensure that children quickly settle. Teachers and support staff successfully create an attractive, stimulating environment. Classrooms and the indoor and outdoor shared areas are very well organised with all areas of learning covered very well. The quality of teaching and learning is very good. All staff have a very caring approach and children consequently become confident and feel secure. Activities are very well planned and a good balance is made between teacher directed and independent tasks. Close attention is given to developing children's social skills and as a result they quickly establish good learning habits. They move to their activities enthusiastically, displaying very positive attitudes to learning and good levels of independence. Children enter

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Grade: 1

the Reception classes having attended a range of pre-school provision and, as a result, their attainment on entry varies. It is generally broadly similar to but slightly below that expected for their age. They make very good progress and achieve very well. By the end of the Reception year the vast majority of children reach the national expectations for their age and some exceed them.

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What the school should do to improve further

This outstanding school knows itself very well and is already taking the steps it has identified to make it even better. As a result, there are no significant areas for improvement. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: St Vincent's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale, 11 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 Vincent's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale, 11 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 Vincent's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale, 11 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 Vincent's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale, 11 December 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

It was a pleasure to visit your school to find out how well you are learning. Thank you for being so friendly and talking to me. I very much enjoyed my day with you and listening to what you had to say. It was very pleasing to hear how proud you are of your school and how you really enjoy learning. I agree with your views and judge St Vincent's RC Primary to be outstanding. I was very impressed at the warm and welcoming atmosphere in your school and the way the staff take excellent care of you so that you feel safe and happy. This was very clear to me because many of you told me how much you like your teachers and enjoy school. They successfully make learning interesting for you and give you lots of good advice about how you can improve your work. I was also very impressed by the mature approach you have to your learning and how hard you work for your teachers. As a result you make very good progress

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

and reach well above average standards in English, mathematics and science. Your behaviour in lessons and around the school is excellent and I was pleased to see how well the older pupils take care of the younger ones. You clearly understand the importance of a healthy diet and how to keep fit and healthy. I was also very pleased to hear that the school listens to your views and has made some changes as a result. Thank you for helping me so much with the inspection of your school. It is clear that the headteacher and all the staff know exactly how to make sure that your school continues to improve, so I am not asking them to make any specific changes. You can play your part by continuing to work hard and enjoy your schooling. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: St Vincent's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale, 11 December 2007

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