Hadrian Primary School

Hadrian Primary School Inspection report

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108668 Unique Reference Number South Tyneside Local Authority 309762 Inspection number 16 June 2008 Inspection date Terry McDermott 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 319 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Jack Brown Chair Mr Scott Brown Headteacher 1 October 2004 Date of previous school inspection Baring Street School address South Shields Tyne and Wear NE33 2BB 0191 4554514 Telephone number 0191 4554514 Fax number

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3-11 Age group 16 June 2008 Inspection date 309762 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 a reduced tariff inspection carried out by one Additional Inspector. The inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues:

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Introduction

■ the effectiveness of the Foundation Stage

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Introduction

■ how well teachers measure and track pupils’ progress, and use the information to support learning ■ the leadership and management of the school

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Introduction

■ the personal development and well being of pupils.

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Introduction

Evidence was gathered by observing lessons, scrutinising pupils’ work, assessment information, school documents, responses by parents to the inspection questionnaire, and holding discussions with the headteacher, teachers, pupils, and the chair of the governing body. 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 made 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 larger than average school serves an area of some economic and social deprivation. The percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals is broadly average. An above average number of pupils are of minority ethnic heritage. The proportion who speak English as an additional language is more than double the national average. The number of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average, although the proportion with statements of special educational need is average. The school holds the Healthy Schools Award, Activemark, Eco Schools Award, Artsmark, and FA Chartermark.

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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: Hadrian Primary School, 16 June 2008

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Grade: 1

Hadrian Primary is an outstanding school where pupils make excellent progress. Their personal development and well-being, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, are outstanding. An overwhelming majority of parents agree, as typified in the comment, ‘I could not have wished for a better school’. The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage, and the quality of the school’s measurement and tracking of what pupils know and can do, have improved significantly since the last inspection. Achievement is excellent. Teachers’ assessments at the end of Year 2 in 2007 showed standards in reading, writing and mathematics were a little below average. Current standards are rising and pupils in Year 2 are now reaching the level expected for their age. From a below average starting point in Year 1 this represents good progress. Progress accelerates in Key Stage 2 and the results of national tests at the end of Year 6 are impressive. Except for a slight dip in 2005

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Grade: 1

results have been significantly above average over the last five years. The more able pupils do especially well with a half of the children exceeding the level expected for their age in mathematics and slightly more than a half in science. Pupils currently in Year 6 have sustained these high standards. Pupils from a minority ethnic background achieve as well as their classmates. Politeness, good manners, mutual respect and tolerance are hallmarks of pupils' behaviour. Their attitude to work is excellent: they are enthusiastic learners and thoroughly enjoy lessons because ‘teachers make learning fun’. Relationships are excellent and pupils say that this is a friendly and harmonious place to be. They are insistent that there is no bullying or racism in the school. Attendance is broadly average. It has been adversely affected by an outbreak of illness among younger children. Attendance in Year 6 is high. The school’s democratically

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Grade: 1

elected school council, is held in high regard. It gives pupils an active voice in school improvements as, for example, in resolving an issue of safety with parents’ car parking at the beginning and end of the school day. Councillors are excellent citizens and role models for younger pupils. Through their widespread and active participation, pupils help raise significant amounts of money for charitable causes. They are very proud of their school. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is very important to the pupils. They are fully aware of the benefits of a well-balanced diet and lots of exercise. Many cycle safely to school as a result of the ‘Bike-It’ initiative. By the time they leave Hadrian’s, pupils have very mature attitudes to work, are self-assured, confident, and eager to face new challenges. The quality of teaching and learning is good with some outstanding features. In many lessons, pupils work independently, taking charge of their own learning by thinking things through for

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Grade: 1

themselves. All lessons are securely founded on well-informed planning, and on the excellent relationships between teachers and pupils based on mutual respect and understanding. Pupils say that ‘teachers are tricky, because they keep you learning even when you think you’re not’. Pupils speak with certainty about the targets they are set and the progress they make. They are less clear about how and what they need to do to improve because marking is not used consistently to identify the next steps for improvement. The outstanding curriculum reflects the external awards the school has received. It offers much more than is normally required, including a modern foreign language, and is well used by teachers to secure pupils’ interest and enjoyment in learning. It underpins pupils’ outstanding progress in their skills, knowledge and personal development. Very wide ranging enrichment 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Hadrian Primary School, 16 June 2008

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Grade: 1

includes visits, visitors, extra classes, and a variety of sporting, creative and cultural activities which add depth and vibrancy to pupils’ learning. Systems to support and guide pupils, particularly the most vulnerable and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, are exceptional. They are based on clear policies which are implemented very well. The attainment of all pupils is checked carefully and any additional assistance is quickly provided as required, to ensure that fast progress is maintained. Assessment information is used effectively by teachers to help plan work which closely meets pupils’ needs. As a result, the number of older pupils needing extra help is low. Rigorous procedures to monitor the school and its work make it a safe and accessible place for all. Systems to safeguard children's welfare are strong, and well supported by close links with parents. Pupils' personal, health and

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Grade: 1

emotional development is very successfully promoted in lessons and through excellent involvement of outside groups such as the fire service, community groups, and other professional agencies. Above all, the respect that all staff have for pupils makes this an exceptionally caring school. The headteacher’s calm leadership, with close attention to detail, is a crucial factor in the school’s success. A knowledgeable, committed and large group of senior and middle leaders provides very strong support. They monitor closely the effectiveness of the school’s work. The honest and very self-critical perspective all managers adopt ensures that school self-evaluation is largely accurate if a little modest. Staff morale is high and reflects the confidence with which teachers and other adults approach the challenging targets for pupils, set by leaders. School development planning is very detailed, but does not always identify with sufficient clarity the

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Grade: 1

‘big picture’ of areas for improvement. The governing body is very effective and fully involved in monitoring. As a result, they give very good support and challenge to school development. The school has an excellent capacity to improve.

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Grade: 2

Attainment on entry to Nursery shows a declining trend over several years. From starting points mostly well below those typical for their ages, in particular in language, literacy and calculating skills, children make a good start to their education. This is because the Foundation Stage is well led and managed. Significant investment in resources, together with good quality teaching, means that children learn at a good rate. They enjoy a very effective balance of self-initiated and teacher led activities which encourages their independence and enjoyment in learning. Staff provide a good quality curriculum within a safe, secure and very attractive environment and give plentiful opportunities for outside play. Although children achieve well, their attainment at the end of the Reception year is below the expectations for their age.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that the marking of work consistently gives pupils a clear indication of what they have to do next to improve. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Hadrian Primary School, 16 June 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: Hadrian Primary School, 16 June 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? 2 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 3 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: Hadrian Primary School, 16 June 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 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: Hadrian Primary School, 16 June 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

17 June 2008 Dear Pupils Inspection of Hadrian Primary School, South Tyneside, NE33 2BB Thank you for your very friendly welcome when I inspected your school recently. I was very impressed with your excellent manners, and the harmonious way you all get on so well together. Some of you told me that you enjoy school very much because ‘teachers make learning fun’. In the lessons I observed, I could clearly see that was the case. I found that Hadrian Primary is an outstanding school, and I was impressed with a number of things that the school does. I have listed some of them here.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The progress you make over time is outstanding. You learn many things in lessons but you also learn many things about what makes a good person. Not only do you learn a great deal in English, mathematics and science, but you also learn to value tolerance, patience and consideration through the respect you show for each other. ■ You learn how to keep safe and how important it is to stay healthy by taking lots of exercise and eating the right foods. ■ The headteacher and all the other adults in the school make an excellent team, working together to help you reach above average standards in the Year 6 tests. Even in an outstanding school there are some things which could be done better. I have asked the school to do one particular thing:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ use marking to ensure that you know more clearly what you need to do to improve.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

You can help by carefully reading the comments made by your teachers and acting upon them. I am sure that you will continue to work hard and enjoy learning in your happy school. Good luck to every one of you for the future. Yours sincerely Terry McDermott Lead inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Hadrian Primary School, 16 June 2008

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