Burraton Community Primary School

Burraton Community Primary School Inspection report

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111972 Unique Reference Number Cornwall Local Authority 310746 Inspection number 16 July 2008 Inspection date Ted Wheatley 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 4 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 422 School The governing body Appropriate authority Steven Carey Chair Martin Bell Headteacher 12 July 2004 Date of previous school inspection Fairmead Road School address Saltash PL12 4LT 01752 843019 Telephone number 01752 840869 Fax number

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4-11 Age group 16 July 2008 Inspection date 310746 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. How well the school has dealt with apparent underachievement by the most able pupils at Key Stage 1. Why there are differences in achievement in subjects at Key Stage 2, and what the school has done about them. Evidence was gathered from data on current standards and achievement, examination of pupils' work and school documents, observation of lessons, discussions with the headteacher, chair of governors and staff, and 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 of these areas, 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 a large school. The great majority of pupils come from White British backgrounds and a very small minority are from minority ethnic families. A very small number of pupils have English as an additional language and receive support. The proportion of pupil with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is above average. The school has a local authority unit that has ten pupils with severe and complex learning difficulties. The pupils receive core skills learning in the unit, but integrate in mainstream for art, music, physical education, assemblies and playtime. The school has recently gained Thinking School accreditation with the University of Exeter.

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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: Burraton Community Primary School, 16 July 2008

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Grade: 2

This is a good and improving school. It is well led and managed and the headteacher provides very clear direction for how it should improve. He is well supported by staff and governors. Leaders at all levels are effective overall, although there is some variation in expertise as there have been recent appointments at senior level. The school's evaluation of its own performance is accurate and the actions it has taken to improve achievement are having a positive impact. The capacity for further improvement is good. Standards are broadly average but fluctuate between years because of the differences between year groups and also because the numbers of pupils with severe and complex learing difficulties in each year varies considerably. Overall, pupils achieve well given their often low starting points when they enter the Reception class. In the past, there was occasional underachievement by the most able pupils at Key Stage 1, but this has been successfully dealt with through providing

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Grade: 2

more challenging teaching. In Key Stage 2, pupils achieve particularly well in mathematics and science. Although achievement is good for most pupils in English, some of the most able do not do as well as they could. The school's own analysis shows this is because teaching does not sufficiently challenge all pupils and it is taking steps to correct this, but the impact is not yet evident. Pupils with learning difficulties make good progress and those who have intensive support for several weeks at a time often make very good progress. Pupils in the attached unit make good progress, taking into account their particular complex learning difficulties. Pupils take great pleasure from school and their attendance is good. They enjoy almost all lessons and their enthusiasm for the very wide range of activities the school provides is exceptionally good. Their understanding of the importance of healthy lifestyles, the part that

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Grade: 2

particular foods play in their growth and development, and the importance of exercise are outstanding. They readily take on responsibilities and play an active part in community activities. For example, the 'playground squad' makes sure that everyone has someone to play with and 'peer mediators' help settle differences between pupils. Pupils in the main school also look after those from the attached unit when they join main school lessons. Pupils take an active part in the wider community. For example, pupils cleared a beach of rubbish and received local recognition and praise. They show a keen grasp of democracy and citizenship issues through election of school council members. The great majority of pupils behave extremely well and safely. However, a very small minority allow boisterous behaviour to become unacceptable, especially at lunchtimes, to the concern of some parents, but the school is dealing with this.

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Grade: 2

The great majority of pupils get on well together and show considerable concern for the well-being of each other. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. They have a very good understanding of their own cultural heritage and a sound grasp of the values and beliefs of other cultures in Britain today. Pupils are prepared well for their future lives. Teachers almost always plan their lessons well and usually make sure that work challenges pupils. The school focuses on helping pupils to think about how they learn and what they need to do to improve their knowledge and understanding. This approach is largely successful and pupils answer questions or explain their work thoughtfully, and think about what else they might need to do to help them make better progress. However, occasionally the most able pupils are not challenged enough, because questioning or activities are not demanding or clearly

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Grade: 2

focused on making them think about their work in enough depth. This is most evident in upper Key Stage 2 literacy lessons. Most lessons are conducted at a fast pace and have a wide range of activities that catch pupils' interests. Marking is generally good, with most giving clear 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Burraton Community Primary School, 16 July 2008 indications of how well pupils are doing and what they need to do next to make better progress, or how their work might be better. However, this is not always the case. A small amount of marking gives little information on how well pupils perform and gives praise for work that does not reflect pupils' abilities. The curriculum is good. There is a very wide range of trips and visitors that make the curriculum interesting and many out-of-school clubs and activities. Pupils are particularly enthusiastic about the extensive musical and sporting activities and their success in sports competitions.

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Grade: 2

For most pupils, the curriculum is well matched to their abilities. The school is working hard to increase the curriculum links between Reception and Year 1 so that pupils entering Year 1 with relatively low skill levels are helped to continue to make progress by working on aspects of the early years curriculum. The school's care and support for pupils is good and is largely a result of extremely good relationships between adults and pupils and the excellent links with external services that support pupils' welfare. The great majority of parents regard the school highly. They think it is a caring school and, typically, say 'My children enjoy school and continue to progress well. They take part in interesting projects which keep them enthusiastic about school life.' Most think they are well informed and, as one parent put it, 'we are kept well aware of the prevailing thoughts in education'. The school is safe and secure, and the school is always looking at how

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Grade: 2

to make it even safer. Provision for pupils with learning difficulties is good, as is the quality of care and support for pupils in the special unit. Academic guidance through the use of targets is effective. Opportunities for pupils to discuss their targets and progress with teachers and parents means that they have a thorough knowledge and understanding of how well they are doing and how to do even better, although this is not always well enough supported in marking.

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Grade: 2

Relationships between staff and parents are good and children settle readily in the Reception class. Children start school with most having attended a wide range of pre-school settings. Their skills are generally below those expected for their age on starting, but they make good progress. Children leaving Reception in 2007 exceeded the expected standards, an improvement on recent years, although a small proportion did not meet expectations in their literacy skills. Achievement has improved with increased accurate assessment and matching of work to children's needs. Activities are well organised and, while children have a large element of free choice, all activities are planned with specific learning objectives. Teaching is good, with all adults focusing on encouraging children to talk and to work and play together. Adults provide sensitive support, helping children make particularly good progress in developing their personal,

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Make sure that work is always challenging, especially for the most able pupils in the upper part of Key Stage 2. ■ Ensure that marking consistently tells pupils how well they are doing compared with their abilities, and guides them on how to make further progress. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Burraton Community Primary School, 16 July 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: Burraton Community Primary School, 16 July 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 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 1 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 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?

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: Burraton Community Primary School, 16 July 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 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: Burraton Community Primary School, 16 July 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Dear Pupils Burraton Community Primary School, Saltash PL12 4LT Thank you for making me feel so welcome when I visited your school. I spoke to several of you in meetings and around school, and you told me a lot about how much you enjoy being there and what your school is like. You were really helpful. These are the main things I found out about your school.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your school is good and improving. Teaching is good. It makes you think about how you learn and you make good progress. ■ The headteacher knows what the school needs to do to become even better than it is now. He and all staff and governors are working hard to make that happen. ■ The relationships between everyone in school are very good and this means that you really enjoy being there. The way you take part in the wide range of activities the school provides, especially music and sport, is excellent. ■ Nearly all of you behave very well and you take good care of each other.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your understanding of what you have to do to stay healthy is brilliant!

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The school is safe and secure and staff are always looking at ways to make it even safer.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The way you take on responsibilities is excellent. It helps prepare you well for your future lives. To improve things further, I have asked the school to do the following things:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Make sure that work is always challenging, especially for those of you who in the upper part of Key Stage 2 who find learning easy. ■ Make sure that when your work is marked, you are told how well you are doing compared with how well you should be doing, and that you are told how to do even better. You can help. If you think you could do better than you are doing, ask an adult to tell you how. With best wishes, Yours sincerely Ted Wheatley Lead Inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Burraton Community Primary School, 16 July 2008

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