White Rock Primary School

White Rock Primary School Inspection report

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113216 Unique Reference Number Torbay Local Authority 311159 Inspection number 7 °8 February 2008 Inspection dates Alex Baxter 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 418 School The governing body Appropriate authority Sue Harvey Chair Nigel Furness Headteacher 16 June 2004 Date of previous school inspection Davies Avenue School address Paignton TQ4 7AW 01803 843175 Telephone number 01803 846017 Fax number

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4-11 Age group 7 °8 February 2008 Inspection dates 311159 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 three Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This large primary school mainly serves the local area. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well below average. A lower than average proportion are from minority ethnic backgrounds. Children's attainment on entry generally matches the level expected of children for their age. The school holds the following awards: Artsmark Gold, International Schools Award, Sport Active, Healthy Schools and ECO School. There have been many changes in teaching staff in recent years. Currently, the headteacher is on a part-time secondment to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and leadership of the school is shared with a 'Partner Headteacher'.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 11 Inspection Report: White Rock Primary School, 7 °8 February 2008

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Grade: 2

This a good school that is improving rapidly. It has a few outstanding features. The high quality pastoral care and excellent range of creative and stimulating learning opportuntities provided by the staff represent the heart of the school. The pupils' outstanding personal development and well-being, particularly their enjoyment and wholehearted commitment, reflect the successfully enriched life blood of the school. Good teaching and learning enable pupils to attain above average academic standards, which represents good achievement by the time they leave. Many parents express their appreciation of these attributes, one typical comment being, 'We are absolutely delighted with the quality of schooling our children receive, as well as the facilities and staff.' Care, guidance and support and the curriculum are good overall but have some outstanding features which develop pupils' personal attributes very effectively. For example, curricular

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Grade: 2

enrichment through imaginative, creative, stimulating topic studies and excellent extra-curricular activities promote the pupils' enjoyment and well-being superbly. Pupils are fully involved, undertake many forms of responsibility as part of their personal development, and make full use of the school's good facilities. Consequently, pupils attend and behave well, really enjoy school, and adopt safe practices in an exemplary fashion. Increasingly, pupils are also encouraged to evaluate their academic work, which is helping to raise standards. For a time, largely due to continued changes in teaching staff, the school's focus on developing pupils' skills in mathematics and science slipped and standards declined. In recent terms, the experienced and astute headteacher, aided closely by a capable 'Partner Headteacher', has instilled a strong unity of purpose between staff, governors and parents, and, increasingly, by

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Grade: 2

the pupils themselves. There is a strengthened emphasis on raising standards and pupils' skills, and additional time has been allocated to mathematics and science. These have already brought substantial improvement. Teaching and learning are good. Children are taught well and make good progress in the Foundation Stage. Good teaching continues through the school and ensures that pupils develop a love of learning and make good progress. By Year 6, standards are above average in all aspects of English and in mathematics. Many pupils also develop above average skills in information and communication technology (ICT) and in the expressive arts and sport. Standards are broadly average in science. Even so, the skills of some more able pupils in solving mathematical problems and when investigating in science are not fully developed. Leadership and management are good. Self-evaluation and procedures for setting targets

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Grade: 2

promote improvement effectively. Carefully considered, separate leadership and management teams represent strengthened features. However, some of these teams, and the electronic tracking of pupils' progress, are relatively recent initiatives and are not yet functioning with equal effectiveness in lifting standards. Secure strengths in pupils' achievements in English, outstanding promotion of pupils' personal development and recent success in lifting standards in mathematics, in particular, show that the school has a good capacity to improve in the future.

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Grade: 2

The Foundation Stage is led well, and provision and children's achievement are good. Children settle quickly because of the good induction process. Teachers and their assistants track 4 of 11 Inspection Report: White Rock Primary School, 7 °8 February 2008 children's progress effectively and keep parents well informed and involved. Parents are very satisfied with the way their children are welcomed and adapt to life in school. They say their children really look forward to coming to school. Good teaching enables the children to make good progress and on entering Year 1, most have achieved the learning goals set for their age. Many do even better in social and emotional development. Planning is detailed and good adult-led and child-initiated activities are organised, including satisfactory use of the outdoor area. However, the outdoor space is not yet fully developed and children have too few opportunities to choose activities outdoors for themselves, which limits their ability to learn

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Improve pupils' enquiry skills in mathematics and science, especially those of the more able pupils. ■ Strengthen the way staff track pupils' progress to raise their own and pupils' expectations of what pupils can achieve.

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Grade: 2

Standards are above average and most pupils achieve well in relation to their starting points. Standards and achievement are rising in response to good teaching and challenging targets. After a period of declining standards in mathematics and science, pupils' progress has accelerated because of increased teaching time and greater emphasis on developing basic skills in these subjects. Children achieve well in Reception classes because of sharply planned and supportive teaching. Pupils make good progress in Key Stage 1 and reach above average standards in reading, writing and mathematics in Year 2. Good progress continues throughout Years 3 to 6. By Year 6, standards are above average in English and mathematics and are broadly average in science. Although pupils' skills continue to improve, at times, the problem solving and investigative skills of more able pupils are not developed sufficiently. However, many pupils

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Grade: 2

show high levels of skill when using computers, during conversation and when undertaking expressive arts and sporting activities.

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Grade: 1

'There is nothing boring about this school,' exclaimed a Year 5 pupil, describing succinctly how pupils feel about their school. Pupils enjoy the range of opportunities provided and develop a love for learning, reflected in good attendance and punctuality. Pupils throughout the school are eager to learn. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good, as shown by excellent relationships throughout the school. Pupils are friendly and polite, and show increasing confidence. They thrive on the encouragement they receive to evaluate their own work. They live up to their excellent awareness of healthy lifestyles. Pupils talk expertly about healthy eating and the value of exercise, and participate fully in the wide range of physical activities. They make an outstanding contribution to school and community life, for example, as members of the school council and the SNAG (School Nutrition Action Group), helping everyone enjoy

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Grade: 1

school. Older pupils derive much benefit from an excellent range of enterprise activities, including organising events. The pupils' excellent personal development and good academic achievement prepare them well for the future. 5 of 11 Inspection Report: White Rock Primary School, 7 °8 February 2008

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Grade: 2

Teaching is typified by a good emphasis on extending pupils' thinking through careful questioning, often by using interactive whiteboards, and by the way staff value pupils' contributions. Increasingly, lessons generate pupils' interest, for example, as in Year 4, when writing about imagined aliens. The teaching of English is a strength. Teachers develop pupils' speaking and listening skills very effectively and involve them beneficially in evaluating their own work. As a result, pupils work hard and enjoy what they are doing. Teachers make good links with previous work, build on pupils' ideas and promote new learning well. Occasionally, in mathematics, even though pupils are taught in classes based on ability, whole-class sessions continue for too long and pupils have limited time to develop their own lines of enquiry. When this happens, some pupils, especially the more able, are not challenged enough and progress

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Grade: 2

slows. Teachers mark pupils' work effectively and give good oral guidance.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum has outstanding features, not least excellent enrichment, which includes learning Spanish, a wide range of clubs, visits and educational links with several countries. Pupils have many opportunities to develop life and workplace skills, for example, learning how to organise and perform in school productions and run a restaurant for an evening. These help to prepare them well for the future. Literacy and ICT skills are developed well and enhance learning in other subjects. In many ways, particularly by stimulating creativity and pupils' enjoyment, the curriculum is 'ahead of the game'. This approach continues to be very successful in promoting pupils' communication and personal skills. Over the course of last year, the school rightly realised that its emphasis on topic work had contributed to a decline in pupils' mathematical and scientific skills. To correct this, more time has been allocated to these subjects and skills

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Grade: 2

are now taught in a more discrete and effective manner, so accelerating pupils' progress. However, they have not been in place long enough to lift pupils' problem solving and investigative skills to the full.

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Grade: 2

Outstanding pastoral care is underpinned by the way that all staff care about the pupils, value their contributions and involve them in the life of the school. This highly effective 'package of care', much praised by parents and the community, includes innovative ideas such as considering risks when planning school trips and acting as 'peer mediators' to pupils who have problems in the playground. These go hand in hand with more traditional, but equally effective, school rules and expectations of good manners and behaviour, and promote pupils' personal qualities very successfully. Procedures for safeguarding pupils' well-being, including care for vulnerable pupils, are excellent. The needs of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are met effectively. Academic support and guidance are good, especially in Years 5 and 6, where pupils use computers to reflect about what they have learned and to evaluate their own work. At

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Grade: 2

times, more able pupils are not always given sufficient guidance to reach their best as they move through the school. 6 of 11 Inspection Report: White Rock Primary School, 7 °8 February 2008

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Grade: 2

The headteacher, who is well supported by senior colleagues, has steered the school successfully through a difficult period of change. In addition, his vision and great skill in establishing a stimulating curriculum accessible to all pupils and emphasising pupils' personal qualities have been crucial in the school's continued development. The headteacher receives good support from the 'Partner Headteacher' and from staff with well considered areas of responsibility. Staff at all levels work well together, helping pupils not only to achieve but also to enjoy school. Governors give effective support. Good links with parents and outside agencies also support pupils' excellent personal development and well-being. Good self-evaluation ensures that priorities for improvement are identified accurately and subsequently achieved. However, relatively new strategies for tracking pupils' progress are not yet implemented with sufficient

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Grade: 2

consistency by all staff and this constrains expectations and achievement of some more able pupils. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: White Rock Primary School, 7 °8 February 2008 .

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Grade: 2

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: White Rock Primary School, 7 °8 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 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? 2 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 1 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 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. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: White Rock Primary School, 7 °8 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? 10 of 11 Inspection Report: White Rock Primary School, 7 °8 February 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

9 February 2008 Dear Pupils Inspection of White Rock Primary School, Paignton, TQ4 7AW Thank you for the warm welcome you all gave us when we inspected your school. We enjoyed meeting and talking with many of you. We agree with you, your parents and your teachers that White Rock is a good and very caring school. These are the main things we found:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The standards you reach in Year 6, especially in English, are better than those found in most schools. They show that you are being taught well and make good progress. ■ You really care highly for each other, behave well and have an excellent understanding of how to live healthily and safely. ■ All the adults in the school appreciate your efforts, especially your enthusiastic contributions to the school and your community. The staff work well with your parents and with other people to make sure that you are safe and happy at school. ■ Your headteacher is a very experienced and talented leader who works very closely with the 'Partner Headteacher' to make sure that you are looked after extremely well. All the staff and governors work well as a team to make sure that you have an exceptional range of learning opportunities, enjoy your time at school and achieve well. To help the school to become even better, we have asked the headteachers, staff and governors

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

to do these things: help some of you to do better when solving problems in mathematics and investigating in science. We have also asked the teachers to strengthen the way they track your progress to help everyone expect and achieve even more. The headteachers, staff and governors know what needs to be done to improve the school and plan well to do this. We believe that if you continue to work hard and give of your best then standards will rise further. On behalf of the inspection team, thank you again for your kind assistance and best wishes for the future. Yours sincerely Alex Baxter Lead inspector 11 of 11 Inspection Report: White Rock Primary School, 7 °8 February 2008

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Annex B

Inspection of White Rock Primary School, Paignton, TQ4 7AW

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Annex B

Thank you for the warm welcome you all gave us when we inspected your school. We enjoyed meeting and talking with many of you. We agree with you, your parents and your teachers that White Rock is a good and very caring school. These are the main things we found:

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Annex B

• The standards you reach in Year 6, especially in English, are better than those found in most schools. They show that you are being taught well and make good progress. • You really care highly for each other, behave well and have an excellent understanding of how to live healthily and safely. • All the adults in the school appreciate your efforts, especially your enthusiastic contributions to the school and your community. The staff work well with your parents and with other people to make sure that you are safe and happy at school. • Your headteacher is a very experienced and talented leader who works very closely with the ‘Partner Headteacher’ to make sure that you are looked after extremely well. All the staff and governors work well as a team to make sure that you have an exceptional range of learning opportunities, enjoy your time at school and achieve well.

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Annex B

To help the school to become even better, we have asked the headteachers, staff and governors to do these things: help some of you to do better when solving problems in mathematics and investigating in science. We have also asked the teachers to strengthen the way they track your progress to help everyone expect and achieve even more.

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Annex B

The headteachers, staff and governors know what needs to be done to improve the school and plan well to do this. We believe that if you continue to work hard and give of your best then standards will rise further.

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Annex B

On behalf of the inspection team, thank you again for your kind assistance and best wishes for the future.

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