Colegate Community Primary School

Colegate Community Primary School Inspection report

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108375 Unique Reference Number Gateshead Local Authority 309668 Inspection number 16 October 2007 Inspection date Kathleen Yates 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 3 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 342 School The governing body Appropriate authority Cllr David Napier Chair Mrs Alison Burton Headteacher 1 March 2004 Date of previous school inspection Colegate West School address Leam Lane Estate Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE10 9AH 0191 4206626 Telephone number 0191 4206616 Fax number

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3-11 Age group 16 October 2007 Inspection date 309668 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: the quality of pupils’ personal development, the curriculum, pupils’ progress in English and the impact of leadership and management at all levels. Evidence was gathered from observing work in classrooms, the school’s own self-evaluation, scrutinising school documentation and records of pupils’ achievement and progress, and discussions with senior leaders in the school and with pupils. 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 the report.

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Description of the school

This is a larger than average primary school. The proportion of pupils who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities and of those who are eligible for free school meals is higher than average. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds.

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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: Colegate Community Primary School, 16 October 2007

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Grade: 2

Colegate Primary is a good school and provides its pupils with a good, all-round education. The school works extremely well with a wide range of outside agencies and together these links are highly successful in ensuring all pupils have equal access to all areas of school life. Pupils’ personal development including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. There is a buzz within the school. It is a bright and stimulating environment where staff display pupils’ work attractively and raise their self-esteem. Attendance is satisfactory. Good teaching across the school builds on the brisk start children get in the Nursery and Reception classes. As a result, all pupils, including those who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities, make good progress and achieve well. The 2006 results of the teachers’ assessments of Year 2 pupils were broadly average in reading, writing and mathematics and the most recent

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Grade: 2

results indicate a similar picture. The national test results for Year 6 in English, mathematics and science were also average. The provisional test results of Year 6 for 2007 show a similar picture but a higher proportion of pupils reached the expected level in writing. These results reflect good progress from the pupils’ low starting points and exceeded the school’s targets. Nevertheless, standards in speaking and listening are a particular problem throughout the school. Pupils respond well to the good teaching and the warm relationships at all levels. Their behaviour is good and they enjoy coming to school. The teachers’ planning includes many stimulating activities and, from the time they join the school, the pupils learn to work well together and help one another. The provision for teaching science is improving. Planning to include a sharper focus on speaking and listening skills is in place but is not yet effective enough. Pupils make

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Grade: 2

a good contribution to the school and to the wider community. The good progress they make in their social skills, together with their skills of literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology, prepare them well for the next stage of their education and their future well-being. The curriculum is good and planned thoughtfully to help pupils to learn to concentrate. It is enhanced by lessons which heighten pupils’ awareness of, and respect for, the diverse nature of society in artwork, dance, cooking, music, and by writing to penpals. The introduction of a modern foreign language further enhances this provision. A wide range of sporting and recreational clubs and the expertise of outside specialist staff support pupils’ physical development well. As a result, pupils have a good understanding of what they need to do to stay fit and healthy. The school has achieved a Basic Skills Award, a Silver Artsmark, a Healthy

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Grade: 2

School Award, an International Education Award, Investor in People and an Active school award. These are all fine examples of how the school helps pupils to succeed in their personal and academic development. Teachers and support staff understand the needs of their pupils well and give them good care, guidance and support. Support for the pupils’ personal development is good. Induction procedures are very good and this is equally true for the guidance pupils receive when they transfer to the next stage of their education. Parents are confident that the school is providing their children with a safe, secure and caring environment for learning. Parents’ comments are overwhelmingly positive in their praise for the way the school encourages their children. The school keeps careful checks of pupils’ progress in reading, writing and mathematics and uses this information well to ensure that all pupils are set realistic targets.

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Grade: 2

4 of 9 Inspection Report: Colegate Community Primary School, 16 October 2007 The headteacher gives clear direction to the work of the school and a strong lead to the staff and governors. Administrative staff ensure the day-to-day running of the school is effective. There is a real sense of teamwork; staff are deployed well and the arrangements for their professional development ensure everyone has the skills knowledge and understanding to carry out their roles diligently. Teaching assistants are also included in regular updating of their skills and their input to pupils’ development makes a valuable contribution to that of the class teachers. A regular programme of monitoring ensures subject leaders have a good understanding of what goes on in their subjects. At present, the school lacks systems to present a clear overview of the progress pupils make. The school’s leadership and management are good and their

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Grade: 2

self-evaluation is accurate. The governing body is well informed and committed to working with the school to make a difference to the lives of all the pupils. The good progress since the last inspection, especially in the provision for science, shows the school has a good capacity for continued improvement and gives good value for money.

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Grade: 2

When they arrive in the Nursery the skills and knowledge of most children are much lower than those typically found at this age and many have poor social, speaking and listening skills. They make good progress, which continues through their time in Reception. Induction procedures are very good. All staff ensure children are welcomed into a warm and bright environment where they feel safe and settle well. Children are quick to respond to the high expectations that they should behave well. Teaching, learning, and the curriculum are good; staff organise stimulating activities which pupils enjoy. Staff make good use of the indoor and outdoor spaces where children play and explore in a wide range of activities. The children grow in confidence and begin to work together, learning to share equipment and to take part in group activities. Leadership and management are good. Regular checks are made of how well children are doing,

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Grade: 2

and there is a growing focus on developing children’s speaking skills to help them to communicate clearly. Parents are encouraged to take a keen interest in helping their children, for example, by sharing books with them. Despite their good progress, only a very small proportion of the children reach the levels expected of this age by the end of the Reception year. The exception to this is that most children do achieve the expected levels in their physical development.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Place even more emphasis on speaking and listening throughout the school to help pupils to make better progress in their communication skills. ■ Refine the system for recording the pupils’ progress so that they and their teachers have a better understanding of what they need to do to improve. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Colegate Community Primary School, 16 October 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: Colegate Community Primary School, 16 October 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. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: Colegate Community Primary School, 16 October 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? 8 of 9 Inspection Report: Colegate Community Primary School, 16 October 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

17 October 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of Colegate Community Primary School, Gateshead, NE10 9AH Thank you all so much for making me so welcome when I came to visit your school. I really enjoyed my visit. Congratulations to you all for your efforts in helping the school to gain so many awards! These help you to be aware of how to stay fit and healthy, to take part in team games and to get on well together. By gaining the International Award, you have all learned so much in your ‘journey around the world’ finding out about the way other people live. Your teachers plan exciting activities for you, including many visits, so that you enjoy your learning and do well. The school leaders and the teachers look after you well and your behaviour is good. Some of you find it difficult to say exactly what you mean and I think that you should have more opportunities to practise your speaking and listening. If you work hard at this you will

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

become more confident in expressing what you want to say. Your teachers have agreed to make some changes to the way that they record how well you are doing so that they and you know exactly when you are doing really well and when you could be doing that little bit better. Keep up the good work! I wish you well for the future. Yours sincerely Kathleen Yates Lead inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Colegate Community Primary School, 16 October 2007

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