St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham

St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham Inspection report

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111341 Unique Reference Number Cheshire Local Authority 310571 Inspection number 11 June 2008 Inspection date Diane Auton 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 aided School category 4 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 166 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs J Burgess Chair Mrs E Livesey Headteacher 4 May 2004 Date of previous school inspection Keepers Lane School address Weaverham Northwich Cheshire CW8 3BY 01606 852149 Telephone number 01606 851175 Fax number

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4-11 Age group 11 June 2008 Inspection date 310571 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 in the Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1 and 2 in the current year; the impact of teaching and the curriculum on progress and standards, with particular focus on the more able pupils' writing in Key Stage 1 and the progress throughout the school of the less able pupils; the impact of leadership and management on improving the school's effectiveness, with particular focus on the more able pupils' writing, the less able pupils' general progress and the management of transition between the key stages. Evidence was gathered from: national published assessment data; the school's self-evaluation, assessment records, policies and minutes; observation of the school at work, including lessons; discussions with governors, members of staff and pupils; the questionnaires returned by parents. Other

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Introduction

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 small school serves its parish and the surrounding area. Its pupils come from a range of backgrounds, although general socio-economic indicators are above average. The proportion entitled to free school meals is very low. A very small number of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds, with none at the early stages of learning English. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is smaller than found in most other schools. Pupils in Key Stage 2 are currently taught in three mixed-age classes, based on age bands. The school building is small and numbers on roll are scheduled to rise in the coming school year. The school holds the Inclusion Quality Mark, the Healthy Schools Award, the Investors in Children Effective Early Learning Quality Mark for the Foundation Stage, the Artsmark (Silver) and the Activemark.

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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: St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham, 11 June 2008

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Grade: 1

This outstanding school enjoys the full and deserved support of parents. Children join the Reception class with skills that are broadly typical for their age; they go on to make excellent progress throughout the school and high standards are consistently achieved at the end of Year 6. This impressive academic achievement is matched by pupils' outstanding personal development. Parents place high value on this, commenting, for example, that the school 'expands its pupils' horizons' and provides them with 'excellent opportunities to develop a sense of responsibility'. In 2007, standards at the end of Key Stage 2 were well above average in all subjects; in Key Stage 1 they were above average in reading and mathematics and broadly average in writing. As the result of highly focused teaching methods introduced during the current year, standards in writing have begun to rise. Although it is too early to judge the full impact of the new

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Grade: 1

initiatives through test results, the current work of pupils across the ability range in Key Stage 1 provides very good early evidence of improving progress and standards in writing. Across the school, the less able pupils and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities achieve well in relation to their abilities and starting points, in response to the good provision the school makes for them. In the current year, high overall standards have been successfully sustained across the classes in Key Stages 1 and 2. These very positive outcomes for pupils are the result of a combination of important factors: teaching is excellent throughout the school; the curriculum matches pupils' needs and interests extremely well; high quality pastoral care helps them to feel secure and ready to learn; generally effective academic guidance enables them to move their learning forward effectively. Pupils say they find their learning interesting and fun. This is clearly evident in lessons, where they

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Grade: 1

quickly become engaged and absorbed in their activities. They respond very positively to opportunities to collaborate and develop ideas with a partner or in teams, and these experiences help them to grow in confidence as learners. The pace of learning is brisk, and teachers balance the elements of challenge and support in lessons very well. Their planning is based on very careful assessment and tracking of progress, and a thorough awareness of pupils' individual learning needs. Skilled teaching assistants, working in partnership with class teachers, make a valuable contribution to pupils' successful learning. Pupils know and understand their individual learning and personal targets because they help to draw them up and review them regularly in discussion with their teacher. They are given good quality guidance in lessons and their work is marked supportively, often with helpful advice on how to improve it. They are not always

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Grade: 1

told how well they have succeeded in meeting the objectives of the lesson and this is an inconsistency in a generally very effective area of provision. Pupils' excellent behaviour and very positive attitudes to learning mean that lessons run smoothly and playtimes are happy. Their spiritual, moral and social development is nurtured well. They have a growing awareness and understanding of world faiths and cultures. The school's strong emphasis on praise and valuing every individual ensures that pupils grow in confidence and form very good relationships with adults and with each other. Transition between Key Stages 1 and 2 is managed smoothly; the school's recent review of its practice has ensured that effective curriculum continuity supports pupils well at transition from the Reception class into Year 1. Procedures are in place to promote child protection and health and safety. Pupils have a good awareness of healthy lifestyle issues and the importance of being physically active for good

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Grade: 1

health. The school encourages them to eat and drink healthily. The before-and-after-school 4 of 9 Inspection Report: St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham, 11 June 2008 club is popular, as is the very good range of sporting and performing arts clubs provided for pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2. A well designed programme of visits and visitors enriches the curriculum. Residential trips are provided for pupils in Key Stage 2, including regular and reciprocated visits to meet pupils from the school's partner school in Italy. French is taught throughout the school and pupils also have opportunities to learn Italian during Key Stage 2. Pupils readily take on responsibility and are keen to make a contribution to the school community, for example by acting as school councillors, road safety officers and recycling officers and by taking charge of setting up audio-visual equipment for assemblies. They also

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Grade: 1

take part in a range of business and enterprise activities, developed through the school's good links with the nearby high school and with higher education providers. The skills they develop in school prepare them very well for the future. Excellent leadership and management ensure that the school runs very effectively. The clear-sighted headteacher, supported by well informed and effective governors, leads a strong team, united in its resolve to provide the best possible outcomes for pupils. All staff contribute to planning for continuous school improvement. Challenging whole-school targets are set, based on accurate information gained from regular and rigorous monitoring and evaluation. The school's capacity for continued improvement is excellent.

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Grade: 1

Children get off to an excellent start in the Reception class. When they enter school, most children have skills that are typical for their age. Very careful planning of creative and interesting activities, which take account of children's different needs, leads to rapid learning. The learning environment, both indoors and in the outdoor area, supports the children's progress well. They have fun and are enabled to make choices and decisions in their learning activities. Because teaching is excellent, children make excellent progress, particularly in their personal, social and emotional development, their physical and creative development, and their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. Newly introduced methods to support early learning of sounds and letters are having a very positive impact and children are eager to practise their new skills in their play activities. Continuous close checks on individual progress celebrate the

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Grade: 1

milestones achieved by the children. As a result, most achieve the expected learning goals for their age and many far exceed them by the start of Year 1. Children have excellent relationships with each other and with the adults in the class. Their welfare is promoted very well, based on very good links with parents and very effective leadership and management.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that marking explains to pupils how well the learning objectives for the lesson or activity have been met. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham, 11 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: St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham, 11 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? 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? 1 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 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 How well learners enjoy their education 1 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: St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham, 11 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 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: St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham, 11 June 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Inspection of St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham, Northwich, CW8 3BY Thank you for making me so welcome when I inspected your school. As you know, I came to see how well the school is doing and how you are all getting on with your learning. I discovered that St Bede's is an outstanding school and that you are receiving an excellent standard of education. These are some of the outstanding features of the school:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ the excellent Foundation Stage gets your learning off to a great start

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ the school is extremely well led and managed

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ your behaviour is excellent, you work hard and try your best - well done, all of you, keep up the good work! ■ teaching and the curriculum are both excellent and this is what makes your lessons so interesting and enables you to do so well - well done, teachers! ■ the grown-ups in school look after you very well.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

I've asked the headteacher and the staff to ensure that marking in your books always tells you how well you've done in achieving the learning objective in your lessons, as I think this will help you to carry on doing well. I hope you'll all continue to be happy learners. With my best wishes for the future. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Weaverham, 11 June 2008

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