Burley St Matthias Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Burley St Matthias' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Inspection report

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108001 Unique Reference Number Leeds Local Authority 309565 Inspection number 19 °20 November 2007 Inspection dates Andrew Clark 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 controlled School category 5 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 142 School The governing body Appropriate authority Dr M Winter Chair Ms Kate Cameron Headteacher 1 December 2003 Date of previous school inspection Burley Road School address Leeds West Yorkshire LS4 2HY 0113 2144523 Telephone number 0113 2744733 Fax number

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5-11 Age group 19 °20 November 2007 Inspection dates 309565 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. 19 °20 November 2007

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by one Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

The school is smaller than average. Pupils come from a diverse range of socio-economic backgrounds. The percentage of pupils eligible for a free school meal is above average. Over half the pupils are of Pakistani, Indian and Afro-Caribbean heritage. The remainder are from White British families, except for a small percentage from continental Europe. A high proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language. A quarter of pupils have learning difficulties and/or disabilities, which is higher than normal: these include visual and physical disabilities. The headteacher and deputy headteacher were appointed in September 2007.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 11 Inspection Report: Burley St Matthias' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, 19 °20 November 2007

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Grade: 2

Burley St Matthias is a good school. Parents and pupils appreciate the welcoming and inclusive ethos that celebrates the many nationalities and cultures it serves. Pupils enjoy lessons because of the good quality teaching and levels of care. The headteacher, well supported by senior staff, provides a very clear sense of direction for future development and the school's capacity to improve is good. Standards are broadly average by time pupils leave school. They achieve well from their starting point in Reception. The school identified a weakness in writing standards in both key stages two years ago. A wide range of strategies were introduced including guided writing and handwriting sessions and these have raised achievement throughout the school. Management have introduced further improvements to help a similar situation in reading and mathematics in Key Stage 1. This is beginning to show improvement, although there is still some way to go

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Grade: 2

to bring standards up to that of writing. Pupils make good progress in science because of the good opportunities provided for them to carry out experiments and investigations. The school sets pupils targets based on their past achievement that are particularly challenging and they have good success in meeting them by Year 6. Pupils' personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is good. Pupils are well behaved and considerate towards each other. They learn to appreciate the wonder and beauty in their everyday life and have a good understanding of their own and others' faiths and cultures. Attendance has improved significantly since the last inspection. Pupils know well the principles of living healthily and this is recognised in the Healthy School's Award. They make a positive commitment to improving their own community through the effective school council.

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Grade: 2

The quality of teaching and learning is good. Lessons have a clear purpose which is effectively shared with pupils. In many lessons, the very good use of time and sharply focused questions lead to rapid progress. Some lessons lack this urgency and pupils do not achieve as well as they should. The curriculum is satisfactory. There are many good features, for example, the promotion of pupils' personal development and provision for pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. However, there is some imbalance between the time devoted to different subjects and pupils spend too long on similar activities. There is a good range of out-of-school activities: a breakfast club, poetry clubs and visits to places of interest. Foundation Stage provision is good. The care and guidance pupils receive is good. Pastoral care is very strong and the tracking of pupils' learning is rigorous, which contributes well to their achievement in many areas.

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Grade: 2

Marking has improved significantly since the last inspection, especially in English. The new headteacher is building well on the positive school ethos, through a thorough analysis of all aspects of achievement and provision. She is supported well by senior management. There is strong evidence that initiatives taken to raise achievement, such as promoting pupils' speaking and listening skills, are proving successful. The governing body provide good support and challenge to help the school develop. The school knows its strengths and weaknesses well, although it is sometimes too modest in the judgements made in its self-evaluation. Finances are managed well and the school gives good value for money. 4 of 11 Inspection Report: Burley St Matthias' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, 19 °20 November 2007

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Grade: 2

The Foundation Stage is well led and managed. Effective record keeping and assessment procedures ensure work is targeted well to children's most important needs. In particular, staff place special emphasis on improving children's language, communication skills and their knowledge and understanding of the world. This is because many children start with low levels of achievement in these aspects. Staff also provide good support to those who speak little English. Achievement is good, although standards are still lower than average when they leave the Reception class. The quality of teaching is good. The classroom is very stimulating with exciting displays of children's work, imaginative role-play areas and well planned activities to encourage independence. Early reading and writing are well taught. A considerable strength is the outdoor area, where children build giant bridges with wooden blocks, play on the pirate

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Grade: 2

ship and plant and study their own garden. As a result, children learn to observe carefully, show curiosity and develop well physically.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Raise standards in reading and mathematics in Years 1 and 2.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure the school day is planned effectively to provide an appropriate breadth of experiences.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Make sure that in all lessons teaching is good or better.

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Grade: 2

Pupils, many of whom speak English as an additional language, make good progress from low starting points. They achieve well, so that by time they leave school standards are broadly average in English, mathematics and science. There has been a good trend of improving achievement in these subjects in Years 3 to 6. Pupils' achievement is less consistent at in Years 1 and 2. It is good in writing but only satisfactory in reading and mathematics. Pupils who speak English as an additional language make good progress as do those with learning difficulties/and or disabilities.

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Grade: 2

Pupils of all nationalities and backgrounds get on very well together in lessons and around school. They show care and tolerance towards each other. Their behaviour is good and most pupils show very good self-control. Behaviour in assemblies, especially from the older pupils, is exemplary. Very occasionally, when the pace of teaching is too slow, a small proportion of pupils chatters and fusses too much. The school council makes good use of suggestions from pupils to influence the life of the school. These include helping to select new staff, including the headteacher, and deciding on colour schemes. Pupils take on the role of monitors around the school well, although they do not consistently take enough responsibility for their own learning. Pupils' spiritual, moral and cultural development is very good. They join in well, discussing important issues such as bringing peace to the world or understanding the similarities

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Grade: 2

between different faiths. 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Burley St Matthias' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, 19 °20 November 2007

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Grade: 2

In many lessons, teachers hold pupils' interest well from the start because of sharply focused and challenging questions. They make certain the purpose of the lesson is clear and explain what pupils should achieve by the end. Teachers regularly refer to targets set for individuals and for the class. As a result, pupils are focussed on achieving well and build on their earlier learning. In these, sometimes outstanding lessons, pupils solve problems for themselves and contribute to planning the next stage in their learning. Teachers often make good use of interactive technology, for example, in enabling pupils to solve phonic word puzzles in Year 3 or to annotate a line graph in Year 5. Sometimes, teachers tell, rather than question, pupils. They do not maintain a quick pace nor set tasks that are challenging and varied enough. This inhibits pupils' progress and encourages some silliness. The well prepared and appropriately

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Grade: 2

trained teaching assistants make a good contribution to pupils' learning, both in supporting classes and in group and individual work.

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Grade: 3

Too much of the morning session is given to reading and similar literacy activities and is too repetitive for some pupils. This dissipates the impact of even good teaching within these times. It also means that there is not enough time for other subjects. The school is reviewing the overall curriculum and already making effective links between subjects. However, a strength of the curriculum is the many visits and visitors to the school that help to make learning relevant and improve pupils' depth of knowledge. Provision for pupils' personal and social development is good and effective links between acts of collective worship and lessons reinforce this.

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Grade: 2

Some families travel from well outside the school's catchment area because of its caring and inclusive reputation. They are fully justified in this because the staff know pupils well and take good care of them. There are good tracking systems in place to support and guide the pupils. These are increasingly effective in raising the achievement of all pupils, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Teachers use marking well to guide pupils, although they do not always involve them in assessing their own work. Procedures to safeguard pupils are in place and the learning mentor provides strong support to the most vulnerable children.

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Grade: 2

The headteacher and deputy headteacher have a very clear focus on raising standards. In a short time they have improved the effectiveness of assessment procedures to enable teachers to match work more closely to pupils' needs. There are good procedures to manage teachers' performance that are being extended to help develop the skills of other staff. The governing body is well informed and gives thoughtful support to the school. They manage the finances very well, enabling the school to maintain good provision despite falling rolls and staff changes. 6 of 11 Inspection Report: Burley St Matthias' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, 19 °20 November 2007 This is now being addressed. The headteacher provides a very good role model in her thorough, analytical approach. The school is held in high regard by parents who appreciate the openness of staff and opportunities to share in supporting their children's education.

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Grade: 2

7 of 11 Inspection Report: Burley St Matthias' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, 19 °20 November 2007 .

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Grade: 2

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: Burley St Matthias' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, 19 °20 November 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? 2 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

2 How well do learners achieve? 3 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 How well learners enjoy their education 3 The attendance of learners 2 The behaviour of learners 2 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?

2 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. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: Burley St Matthias' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, 19 °20 November 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 2 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 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? 10 of 11 Inspection Report: Burley St Matthias' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, 19 °20 November 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Thank you for being so friendly when I visited your school earlier this week. I enjoyed talking with you and looking at your work. Your school is providing you with a good education that I know you enjoy. You play and work very nicely with each other. You are well behaved and you try hard to do what teachers ask of you. Adults look after you well so you feel safe and confident about asking them for help or to talk to them about any worries. The school is good at giving special help to those of you who need it. You know how to keep healthy and you particularly enjoy the good opportunities you have to take part in sport. You choose to eat healthy meals and snacks. There is a good range of interesting activities for you to do before, during and after school. Your new headteacher leads the school well and all her staff give her plenty of support. Your parents love your school and find every body welcoming and caring.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

You are making good progress in your learning. That is because the work you do and the teaching you receive are good. Some lessons are especially good and I have asked the school to help make sure that more of your lessons are as good. I have asked your headteacher and staff to help you do even better in reading and mathematics by the end of Year 2. All of you work hard all day, but sometimes the lessons in the morning are too much alike and I have asked the school to look closely at this. You can help your teachers in their efforts to improve your school by coming to school regularly, working hard and doing your best at everything. I wish you and your teachers well in the future. 11 of 11 Inspection Report: Burley St Matthias' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, 19 °20 November 2007

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