Emmbrook Junior School

Emmbrook Junior School Inspection report

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109863 Unique Reference Number Wokingham Borough Council Local Authority 310124 Inspection number 15 May 2008 Inspection date Alan Jarvis 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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Junior Type of school Community School category 7 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 226 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Alexis Smith Chair Mr Paul Rowe Headteacher 26 January 2004 Date of previous school inspection Emmbrook Road School address Wokingham RG41 1JR 0118 9784940 Telephone number 0118 9795006 Fax number

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7-11 Age group 15 May 2008 Inspection date 310124 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 an Additional Inspector. The inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues:

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Introduction

■ The reasons why different group of pupils make the progress they do.

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Introduction

■ The impact of leaders and managers at all levels.

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Introduction

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 is an average size school. Nearly all pupils are from a White British background with a very small minority having other ethnic backgrounds. The school has a specialist unit for a small number of pupils with hearing impairment. These pupils often have other additional needs. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties is above average. The majority of these have moderate learning or behavioural difficulties or need support for their dyslexia or autism. Each year group has two classes. The turnover of staff has been higher than normal in recent years. The headteacher took up his post in September last year.

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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: Emmbrook Junior School, 15 May 2008

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Grade: 3

Emmbrook Junior is a satisfactory school. Most pupils make sound academic progress because of satisfactory teaching. However, the rich creative curriculum and strong pastoral care do result in the pupils' good personal development. The school is popular with parents and pupils who find the headteacher very approachable. Parents typically say, 'Our children really enjoy school and new headteacher is making lots of changes for the better'. National tests results show that standards last year were average at the end of Year 6. These have shown a slight decline in the past three years. Overall, most pupils made satisfactory progress although some pupils did not do as well as they should have done. The current Year 6 pupils are again on course to reach average standards in English, mathematics and science enabling them to make a sound start to their secondary education. Although they have made good progress in Year 6, most groups of pupils have made satisfactory progress from their

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Grade: 3

various starting points at the start of Year 3. Fewer pupils are underachieving. This reflects the satisfactory teaching they have had for most of their time in school. Pupils make satisfactory gains in learning in most classes. This is because similar work is often set for the whole class. This means that, whilst tasks in lessons are reasonably challenging for the average attaining pupils, they are often too easy for the more able and too hard for others. More regular monitoring of lessons is helping to address this but there is still some way to go. A few parents accurately reflect this when they say, as one commented, 'Our only concern is that the brighter pupils are not stretched'. However, this is not the case in all classes. For example, most pupils in the Year 6 classes are making good progress especially those who started Emmbrook this year. The difference here is that teachers carefully use the information they have on pupils to

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Grade: 3

tailor work so that it strongly challenges all groups. This they do by sharing three different goals and success criteria for different groups of pupils in each lesson. This methodology was also used to very good effect in a Year 5 lesson where the added bonus of targeted quick fire questions ensured rapid gains in learning. A further reason why progress is not consistently good is that teachers' marking does not sufficiently identify the next steps pupils need to take in their learning. Pupils with moderate learning or behavioural difficulties make satisfactory progress. The main reason again why it is not better is that their learning is not sharp enough. However, more timely and effective support has resulted in fewer underachieving this year. The one group of pupils that consistently do very well are those with hearing impairment. The good numbers who reach average standards by the end of Year 6 reflects their rapid academic

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Grade: 3

and personal progress and detailed attention given to meeting their complex learning needs. Although the curriculum in English, mathematics and science is satisfactory, the real strength in the curriculum lies in the creative subjects. For example, much high quality artwork permeates the school. Provision for information and communication technology (ICT) is much better than the last inspection and pupils really enjoy computer work. In a Year 4 lesson pupils used ICT well in geography to make a Power Point presentation about Rainforest environments. During the inspection, a good assembly was observed where pupils demonstrated splendid presentations about 'Saving Leatherback Turtles'. Other pupils used role play very well as they played the part of young estate agents who were trying to sell houses they had designed in design technology. These are good evidence for the way the school helps pupils to become confident

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Grade: 3

speakers and develop good awareness of the environment. Year 5 pupils have worked closely with a local community group called the Friends of the Emm brook. Their impressive research about the wildlife and ecology of the area has been included in a print and an information 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Emmbrook Junior School, 15 May 2008 board that the Friends are providing next to the local brook to inform the public. Pupils sing well. The beams on the faces of the Year 3 pupils when they sang the 'Rainbow Song' accompanied with sign language show how well the school includes all pupils and how pupils themselves thoroughly enjoy what they do. For a school of this size the range of extra-curricular clubs is first class. These have increased this year and there is something for everyone. The school's strong focus on pastoral care has ensured pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development remains good. Attendance is also above average and improved because, compared

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Grade: 3

with recent years, fewer parents are taking their children on holiday during term time. Pupils say, 'We are really fit and eat well' and shows they respond well to the good opportunities for physical exercise and the promotion of healthy eating. However, the headteacher rightly recognises the key challenge the school faces is to quicken pupils' progress. The downturn in results has highlighted shortcomings in how well leaders and managers at all levels evaluate the impact of teaching and learning on pupils' progress. In addition, the targets that are set for each class are not high enough and the checks made to ensure that all groups of pupils are doing as well as they can lack rigour. To help address this the roles and responsibilities of the senior leadership team are being reviewed and the relatively inexperienced subject co-ordinators are being given the necessary training to carry out their roles more efficiently. Whilst some

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Grade: 3

actions such as better deployment of teachers and better co-ordination of the science curriculum are starting to improve pupils' progress there is still some way to go. Given the improvements made this year, and the actions taken, the school has a satisfactory capacity for further improvement.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Raise standards and accelerate pupils' progress by ensuring that teaching is consistently challenging for all groups of pupils. ■ Use assessment information more incisively to ensure pupils know their next steps in learning and reach consistently challenging targets. ■ Develop the role of leaders and managers at all levels so that better checks are made of pupils' and teachers' performance and there is a consistent focus on raising achievement still further. A small proportion of schools whose overall effectiveness is judged satisfactory but which have areas of underperformance will receive a monitoring visit by an Ofsted inspector before the next section 5 inspection. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Emmbrook Junior School, 15 May 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: Emmbrook Junior School, 15 May 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? 3 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

3 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 3 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 2 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?

3 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: Emmbrook Junior School, 15 May 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 3 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 3 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: Emmbrook Junior School, 15 May 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

29 May 2008 Dear Pupils Inspection of Emmbrook Junior School,Wokingham,RG41 1JR As you know, I visited your school recently I particularly enjoyed speaking to the school council and your afternoon assembly in which you showed me some of your achievements. My report says that yours is a satisfactory school. This means that some things are good but there are some aspects that could be better. I can see why you get on well with your headteacher and like your teachers a lot. They are very friendly and want the best for you. You rightly told me behaviour in your school is good, bullying is very rare and that you particularly liked the many clubs on offer. By the time you leave school you reach the standards expected for your age in English, mathematics and science which enables you to make a sound start to secondary school. However, the work you do in other subjects is often better. For example, the good opportunities you have to undertake research,

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

work in groups on exciting projects, sing in the choir really do pay off in helping you develop good personal skills. I was particularly impressed by the work done by Year 5 in raising awareness about Leatherback Turtles and working with Friends of Emmbrook to develop an information board to inform visitors about the nearby brook. Let us hope it does not flood again. I could see how you all cared for each other very well. As you know some pupils in your school have to have help because of their hearing. You will be pleased to know that these pupils do really well at your school both because of what your teachers do and because of the kindness you show them. Well done! Your headteacher knows your personal development is good but wants to improve the quality of teaching and learning so that you make faster progress and reach higher standards. You can help by working hard on your learning objectives. In addition, I have asked your teachers to

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

make sure that you are all very clear about your next steps in learning and to try and help you all to reach and exceed your targets. Your teachers and governors are also very keen to develop their work by making better checks to see if what they do really does lead to you making faster progress. I have asked them to continue doing this right across the school. I am sure you will play your part in helping your teachers improve Emmbrook Junior further and become a good school. I wish you the best for the future. Yours sincerely, Dr Alan Jarvis Lead Inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Emmbrook Junior School, 15 May 2008

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