Crich Junior School

112534 Unique Reference Number DERBYSHIRE LA Local Authority 310918 Inspection number 14 February 2008 Inspection date Godfrey Bancroft 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 51 School The governing body Appropriate authority Pastor Chris Hand Chair Mrs Cheryl Julian Headteacher 8 September 2003 Date of previous school inspection School Lane School address Crich Matlock Derbyshire DE4 5DF 01773 852 384 Telephone number 01773 852 384 Fax number

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7-11 Age group 14 February 2008 Inspection date 310918 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, its achievement, standards and quality of teaching and learning, and investigated in particular the following issues:

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Introduction

■ The achievement and the standards attained by pupils currently in Year 6;

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Introduction

■ The actions taken to improve achievement and raise standards in science.

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Introduction

■ The impact on standards in English of the school's programmes for teaching pupils about letter and word sounds and to improve their spelling. The inspector gathered evidence from an analysis of information and data about pupils' achievement provided by the school, observations of parts of lessons, parents' questionnaires and discussions with the headteacher, staff, governors, pupils and Local Authority adviser. The inspector did not investigate other aspects of the school's work in detail, but found no evidence to suggest that the school's own assessments, as given in its self-evaluation, were not justified. These judgements have been included in the report.

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Description of the school

This is a very small junior school, serving a village community. The percentage of pupils eligible for a free school meal is broadly average. However, pupils come from a wide range of social and economic backgrounds. All current pupils are of White British background. The percentage of pupils who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well above average, as is the percentage having a statement of special educational need. The school is a member of the local Sports Partnership.

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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: Crich Junior School, 14 February 2008

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Grade: 2

The school is an exciting place to learn and rightly evaluates the quality of education it provides as good. This is mainly because it is led and managed effectively. Pupils benefit greatly from the ways in which staff work together to support each other and from good teaching. Parents and carers are very pleased with the school. A comment made by one parent reflected that of many when she said, 'We think the teaching and learning our child receives is excellent.' Attainment on entry varies from year to year and is sometimes below average, especially in reading and writing. However, pupils achieve well and make good progress, especially those who experience various learning difficulties. By the time pupils leave standards in English, mathematics and science are broadly average, a pattern that has been maintained over recent years, even when year groups have contained significant numbers of pupils who have learning

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Grade: 2

difficulties. There has been a tendency for standards in science to fall behind those in English and mathematics. However, the school has taken prompt action to remedy this situation through the introduction of specialist teaching and a stronger focus on investigative work. The underlying trend is one of steadily improving standards. Measures of the value added by the school show it to be close to the top 25% of schools for the progress its pupils make. This progress, combined with a good understanding of information and communication technology (ICT), well-developed social skills and their willingness to take responsibility, is laying the foundations for pupils to be successful in their future education and later life. Personal development and well-being, including pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are good. Behaviour is excellent and attendance is above average, reflecting

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Grade: 2

pupils' enjoyment of school and their commitment to trying to do their best. As one pupil commented, 'I've been to lots of schools and this is the best.' Pupils also have a good understanding of how to stay safe and of the importance of eating healthily and taking regular exercise. The success of this is exemplified by the observation of the school's Healthy Snacks policy. Pupils also make a valued contribution to their community, for example by caring for their environment and helping at the village luncheon club. Teaching and learning are good. Teachers consistently celebrate pupils' successes and efforts and this helps to motivate pupils exceptionally well. Lessons are planned well to meet the needs of all pupils and to make learning interesting and stimulating. Very effective use is made of teachers' specialist knowledge and skills in areas such as ICT, music and science. This is leading to significant improvements in provision and achievement in each of these subjects. The school's

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Grade: 2

approach to teaching letter and word sounds and spelling is helping to improve pupils' progress in English. However, teachers sometimes miss opportunities for pupils to take part in discussions and do not always give them enough time to plan their answers to questions. The curriculum is outstanding and focuses very effectively on developing pupils' artistic and creative abilities. The planning for pupils' progress and the coverage of subjects across the mixed age classes is excellent and builds very effectively on pupils' previous learning. There are also very effective systems to capitalise on each pupil's preferred learning style, which helps pupils of all abilities to maximise the progress they make. Music is at the heart of a school that is at the centre of its community. This was vividly illustrated by the excellent concert, held in the nearby, packed, chapel, in which every pupil played an instrument, including brass and

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Grade: 2

strings. For such a small school there is an exceptional range of additional activities with a significant number of pupils taking the opportunity to participate. Theme days, in which different 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Crich Junior School, 14 February 2008 age groups work together are greatly enjoyed by all pupils. Such days include a European language day and a sports day, which includes activities such as fencing and golf. In addition, all pupils are taught French. Care, guidance and support are good. Exceptional care is provided for potentially vulnerable pupils, who take great comfort from being able to use the well equipped Positive Play Room and from time spent with Peggy, the school dog. The school meets all the legal requirements to ensure that pupils are safe and cared for very well. Arrangements to track pupils' progress and to intervene in the event of any shortfalls are good. Overall, there are effective arrangements

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Grade: 2

to involve pupils in understanding what they need to do to improve their work. Even so, the school's marking policy is not applied consistently and sometimes opportunities to document how work might be improved precisely enough are missed. Parents, carers and pupils all have good opportunities to express their views about the school's work and to make suggestions about how it might be improved. There are also strong links with partner providers, especially to ensure that pupils who have learning difficulties do well. Leadership and management, including governance, are good. Governors are supportive and well informed about the work of the school, fulfilling an effective role in guiding its work. In partnership with the headteacher and staff, governors ensure that targets for pupils' attainment and progress are suitably challenging. However, the systems for governors to evaluate the quality of provision are not always focussed closely enough on current developments and the

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Grade: 2

outcomes of evaluations are not recorded. Improvement since the last inspection is good and the school has successfully addressed all the issues for improvement identified at that time. The school's capacity for further improvement is also good.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Make sure that opportunities for pupils to be involved in discussion and to plan their answers to questions are used to best effect. ■ Ensure teachers apply the school's marking policy consistently.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Establish a more structured approach for governors to evaluate the quality of provision and record their observations. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Crich Junior School, 14 February 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: Crich Junior School, 14 February 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 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 1 How well learners enjoy their education 2 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?

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: Crich Junior School, 14 February 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: Crich Junior School, 14 February 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

14 February 2008 Dear Pupils Inspection of Crich Junior School, Matlock DE4 5DF Thank you for making my visit to your school such a pleasure. I really enjoyed talking with you and watching you work so hard during lessons. I know that you and your parents and carers think your school is good and you are correct to do so. Your musical concert, in the chapel, is something I will remember for a long time. It was brilliant. You and your school do many things well. For example

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Enjoyable and interesting lessons help you to learn well.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your behaviour is excellent and you work and play together really well.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ For such a small school you have an excellent range of additional activities, such as music, various sports and 'theme' days. ■ All the adults are good at taking care of you and at helping you to do your best.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Mrs Julian, the other adults and your school governors are good at making sure everything at your school works well and that you have all you need to help you to learn successfully. To help to make your school even better I have asked Mrs Julian, the staff and the governing body to

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Provide more opportunities for you to be involved in discussions and to give you more time to plan your answers to questions. ■ Make sure that when your work is marked, teachers' comments are clear enough to guide you about how to make it even better. ■ Improve the systems for your school governors to measure how well the school is doing and to keep records of the things they see when they visit. I wish you well in your future education. If you work with the enthusiasm you showed during the inspection, I am sure you will be successful. Yours sincerely, Godfrey Bancroft Lead Inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Crich Junior School, 14 February 2008

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