Bolshaw Primary School

Bolshaw Primary School Inspection report

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106029 Unique Reference Number Stockport Local Authority 309009 Inspection number 9 January 2008 Inspection date Stephen Wall 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 216 School The local authority Appropriate authority Mr A Beckett Headteacher 9 February 2004 Date of previous school inspection Cross Road School address Heald Green Cheadle Cheshire SK8 3LW 0161 4376886 Telephone number 0161 4376886 Fax number

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4-11 Age group 9 January 2008 Inspection date 309009 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: standards and achievement, teaching and learning, and leadership and management. Evidence was gathered from the school's self-evaluation; national published assessment data; the school's own assessment records, policies and minutes; observation of the school at work; interviews with senior members of staff and pupils; and the 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 the self-evaluation, were not justified, and these have been included where appropriate in the report.

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Description of the school

This average size primary school serves a socially diverse urban area. The proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is below average. The number of pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds is below average; few of these have English as an additional language. Above average numbers of pupils have learning difficulties and/or disabilities, although none has a statement of special educational needs. The school holds Investors in People status and has twice been awarded the School's Achievement Award. The school has Healthy Schools status and has been awarded the Basic Skills Quality Mark on three occasions. The school has also gained the Schools Curriculum 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: Bolshaw Primary School, 9 January 2008

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Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school. The dynamic and dedicated leadership of the headteacher encourages outstanding levels of teamwork which bring the school's mission statement to life: 'No matter how well we do we can always do better.' The pursuit of improvement is relentless. It ensures that pupils make outstanding progress in their academic and personal development. The care, guidance and support the school offers are outstanding. They ensure that pupils work and play in a secure and nurturing environment. The use of assessment is exemplary enabling the school to track each pupil's progress so that everyone achieves to their full potential. Parents value the school highly. 'My children love going to this excellent school. It cares for them at all times and is instilling in them a love of learning,' was a typical comment. The school has made outstanding progress since the previous inspection. It offers outstanding value for money.

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Grade: 1

From starting points which are below average, pupils make outstanding progress as they move up through the school because outstanding teaching and an outstanding, innovative curriculum work together to make lessons both demanding and enjoyable. 'Our teachers are great. They make lessons really interesting and fun for us. I love our topic work because we get the chance to follow up our own ideas!' said one pupil enthusiastically. By the end of Year 2 standards are consistently above average in reading, writing and mathematics. By the end of Year 6 standards in national tests in English, mathematics and science are always above average and often well above average. In the 2007 tests in English nearly all pupils gained the expected level while in mathematics and science everyone did so, with above average numbers gaining the higher levels. The school's astute use of its strong team of teaching assistants supports teaching very

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Grade: 1

effectively ensuring that all pupils, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, make outstanding progress. Pupils enjoy coming to school as seen in their above average attendance levels and their happy, smiling faces. They are welcoming to visitors. They are courteous and inquisitive. Pupils have a very clear understanding of right and wrong. They are knowledgeable and respectful of other religions and cultures. They know what they need to do to lead healthy lifestyles and what foods are good for them. Large numbers participate in the extensive range of sporting enrichment activities. Pupils say that staff are approachable and always ready to listen. Pupils comment favourably on how respectfully and fairly adults treat them. Pupils feel safe in school and trust adults to help them sort out any problems. The active school council has brought about significant improvements to playground facilities. Older pupils enjoy the responsibilities

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Grade: 1

of being made prefects and helping younger pupils. By providing pupils with high levels of basic skills and high levels of self-esteem the school is giving them an excellent foundation for future success. The outstanding leadership of the headteacher gives the school a clear vision of where the school is going and how it is to get there. Expectations are high and have become the norm underpinning all its work. The school's evaluation of its own effectiveness is highly accurate. Procedures for self-evaluation are thorough and take into account the opinions of a wide range of stakeholders including parents and pupils. As a consequence, everyone feels that the identified areas for improvement are important. They are incorporated into the high quality school development plan which includes rigorous success criteria and dates for reviews and completion. Complacency is not a word that exists in this school's vocabulary. Because of this the school is

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Grade: 1

4 of 9 Inspection Report: Bolshaw Primary School, 9 January 2008 constantly seeking ways to improve. This unceasing pursuit of excellence is giving the school outstanding capacity to build on its present success and improve even further.

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Grade: 1

Children get off to an excellent start in the Reception class. From starting points which are below those typical for their age when they enter, children make outstanding progress to attain skills which are above age-related expectations by the time they enter Year 1. Such strong progress is brought about by highly skilled teaching which provides the children with an exceptional range of activities, both indoors and outdoors, to stimulate their interest and help them to develop their skills as inquisitive and independent learners. The Foundation Stage is led and managed outstandingly well. This ensures that the excellent facilities and resources are used to maximum effect to support children's learning and to provide a safe and stimulating environment for learning and play.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ The school is fully aware of what it needs to do to improve even further so no additional issues need to be identified. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Bolshaw Primary School, 9 January 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: Bolshaw Primary School, 9 January 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? 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 2 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: Bolshaw Primary School, 9 January 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: Bolshaw Primary School, 9 January 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Inspection of Bolshaw Primary School, Stockport, SK8 3LW Thank you for making me so welcome when I spent a day in your school recently. I enjoyed meeting you and talking with you. What you told me helped me greatly in coming to my judgements about how good your school is. You will be pleased to know that your school is giving you an outstanding quality of education. Your teachers work very hard to make lessons interesting and enjoyable. Because of this you make excellent progress in your learning as you move up through the school. The standards Year 6 pupils attain in national tests are a credit to the school and, of course, to their hard work! I was pleased to see how polite you all are and how well you get along together. You told me you enjoy school and I could see that was true by how happy you all look and how proud you are of your school. Your headteacher and all the adults working with you are working extremely

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

hard to make sure you get the best possible start in life the school can give you. Your teachers are always looking for ways to make your school even better and they know exactly what needs to be done to bring this about. I am confident that you will do all you can to help them make the school go from strength to strength. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Bolshaw Primary School, 9 January 2008

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