Canada Hill Community Primary School

Canada Hill Community Primary School Inspection report

p.1

113245 Unique Reference Number Devon Local Authority 311173 Inspection number 20 November 2008 Inspection date David Edwards HMI Reporting inspector

p.1

This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The registered childcare, managed by the governing body, was inspected under section 49 of the Childcare Act 2006.

p.1

Primary Type of school Community School category 4–11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 280 School (total) 45 Government funded early education provision for children aged 3 to the end of the EYFS 0 Childcare provision for children aged 0 to 3 years The governing body Appropriate authority Mark Elkington Chair Delphine Knott Headteacher 1 April 2005 Date of previous school inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous funded early education inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous childcare inspection Abbotsridge Drive School address East Ogwell Newton Abbot TQ12 6YS

p.1

4–11 Age group 20 November 2008 Inspection date 311173 Inspection number 01626 335595 Telephone number 01626 336548 Fax number

p.1

4–11 Age group 20 November 2008 Inspection date 311173 Inspection number .

p.2

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.

p.3

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. 3 of 11 Inspection Report: Canada Hill Community Primary School, 20 November 2008

p.3

Introduction

The inspection was carried out by one of Her Majesty's Inspectors and an Additional Inspector. The inspectors evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues: the impact of setting challenging targets for pupils' achievement and standards, especially at Key Stage 1 and in writing; the effectiveness and impact of senior leaders' monitoring and self-evaluation in securing high quality teaching and learning; and how effective the school has been in developing subject leaders as a means of spreading good practice and further developing the school's capacity to improve. Inspectors gathered evidence from discussions with senior leaders, teaching and non-teaching staff, observation of pupils engaged in activities around the school and discussion with members of the school council. Other aspects of the school's work were not investigated in detail, but inspectors found no evidence to suggest that the school's own assessments, as given in its

p.4

Introduction

self-evaluation, were not justified, and these have been included where appropriate in this report.

p.4

Description of the school

This is larger than the average-sized primary school. Children start the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in the Reception Year, with skills that are as expected for their age. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is below average. The percentage of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is in line with the national average, although the proportion with a statement of special educational need is slightly higher. The school provides before-school care for children each day and after-school care one day a week. The percentage of pupils who enter the school other than at the usual times is above average.

p.4

Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 4 of 11 Inspection Report: Canada Hill Community Primary School, 20 November 2008

p.4

Grade: 1

'Canada Hill is a fantastic school with an amazing team of teachers and support staff'; 'One of the strengths of the school is the ability to help the children to become well-balanced, confident young people.' These comments, written by parents who responded to the Ofsted questionnaire, reflect the views of the overwhelming majority of parents who support the school and are very happy with their children's progress and achievements. These comments add weight to the inspectors' judgement that Canada Hill Community Primary School is outstanding. The school's success stems from the impressive work of the headteacher. With her leadership team, she has skilfully managed to impart her vision for academic excellence along with careful attention to pupils' personal development, which is outstanding, throughout the school. Consequently, staff are united in this work and are highly motivated to ensure all pupils achieve

p.5

Grade: 1

as well as they can. Parents appreciate the school's commitment to good communication, which is maintained through an efficient and approachable team of school administrators. From the moment children arrive in the EYFS, they settle quickly and really enjoy their learning. This is because the support they receive is outstanding and correctly focused on children's individual learning needs. From this excellent beginning, children quickly grow in confidence, which gives them the best possible start to their learning. Transition arrangements into Key Stage 1 are managed carefully as teachers continue to nurture and support pupils. During this stage, particular attention is given to rooting pupils' newly acquired skills firmly in a stimulating learning environment. As a result, pupils make good progress and achieve above average standards by the end of Key Stage 1. However, pupils' individual targets for development are

p.5

Grade: 1

insufficiently sharp at this stage to secure the rapid progress achieved by other year groups. Pupils in Key Stage 2 flourish and quickly grow in all areas of learning and make outstanding progress because of good and, more often, outstanding teaching. Consequently, standards in English, mathematics and science at the end of Key Stage 2 are outstanding. A significant reason for the success pupils enjoy at Canada Hill is the outstanding curriculum. Leaders have been innovative in providing pupils with 'an adventurous curriculum' that stimulates and motivates them to achieve so highly. Careful planning that ensures the correct balance of subjects effectively weaves together rigorous attention to the development of pupils' skills, along with exciting new learning experiences. This keeps pupils highly motivated and eager to succeed. Pupils' high levels of concentration in lessons further support their learning. For

p.5

Grade: 1

example, in a Year 1 science lesson, pupils were able to recall rapidly all five human senses from a previous lesson. In a French lesson, pupils in Years 5 and 6 were able to construct sentences confidently in French for a museum guide that linked with their history studies on Victorian childhood. Experienced teaching assistants work closely with teachers in providing support tailored to meet the needs of individuals or small groups. As a result, pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, along with high attaining pupils, make outstanding progress. The school works hard to promote community cohesion, for example through singing in the community and providing regular contributions to the parish magazine. The school has recently become an international school in its quest to develop meaningful links within the global community. Through the curriculum, pupils learn about other cultures, such as China through

p.5

Grade: 1

its artwork, and Mexico. The school's inclusive ethos ensures that the care, guidance and pastoral support given to pupils are highly effective. All legal requirements in safeguarding pupils are fulfilled, and all 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Canada Hill Community Primary School, 20 November 2008 reasonable steps are taken to ensure children are safe within school. Pupils' work is marked thoroughly. Individual targets for older pupils, to help them know their next steps in learning, are effective and understood by pupils, who are keen to meet them. Completed work is highly valued and regularly celebrated, as seen in the outstanding quality of work displayed around the school. Pupils are proud of their achievements. It is no surprise to find that pupils thoroughly enjoy their learning and their behaviour is excellent. Pupils have a very good knowledge about what it means to eat healthily and how to stay safe. They know the school rules and respond very well to the various reward systems that

p.5

Grade: 1

are in place. 'The best thing about this school is everyone is helpful; teachers and friends help you with your problems,' said one typically happy child. Pupils delight in the variety of opportunity provided through the curriculum as well as the many after-school activities on offer. The well-established school council enables pupils to play a full part in the life of the school, which further enhances their developing economic awareness through regular fundraising initiatives. Pupils' spiritual development is good, although opportunities are sometimes missed for pupils to develop spiritual awareness in acts of collective worship. Pupils' attendance is good and regularly monitored by the school. Governors are highly effective in supporting the school. They are very well informed by the headteacher, which enables them to provide the correct balance of support and challenge necessary to sustain school improvement. Leaders have been assiduous in addressing areas for

p.6

Grade: 1

development. The systems for checking pupils' progress are very strong and used effectively to identify appropriate actions to secure improvement. Given its improvement since the previous inspection, the outstanding commitment by leaders to strive for even greater excellence, and effective self-evaluation, the school has an outstanding capacity for further improvement.

p.6

Grade: 1

Children get off to a flying start in their first year at school because of the outstanding provision in the EYFS. They settle quickly and happily into school because of the effective links with pre-school providers and the carefully structured induction procedures. Thoughtful use of indoor and outdoor spaces means that children have access to a wide range of learning opportunities that enable them to establish themselves as independent learners very quickly. All adults working in the EYFS team ensure that care and welfare are high priorities, which leads to children demonstrating good self-confidence, especially when communicating with adults. In turn, staff have very high expectations which result in children making outstanding progress. This applies to all areas of learning but is particularly notable in children's personal, social and emotional development. For example, a group of six children were able to organise

p.6

Grade: 1

themselves independently, take turns and work together as they played a game on the interactive whiteboard. Leadership of the EYFS is exemplary. Staff lose no time in making excellent use of assessment procedures to find children's starting points and then match teaching and learning activities precisely to individual needs. From the outset, specific help is given to those children who need to catch up on aspects of their learning. Teachers take great care to ensure the curriculum motivates and engages children extremely well, which further helps them to become excited about learning. 6 of 11 Inspection Report: Canada Hill Community Primary School, 20 November 2008

p.6

What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that detailed marking in Key Stage 1 helps pupils to know what they need to do to improve their work. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: Canada Hill Community Primary School, 20 November 2008 .

p.7

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. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: Canada Hill Community Primary School, 20 November 2008

p.8

Inspection judgements

School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

p.9

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 capacity to make any necessary improvements

p.9

EYFS?

1 How well do children in the EYFS achieve? How good are the overall personal development and well-being of the children in the EYFS? 1 How effectively are children in the EYFS helped to learn and develop? 1 How effectively is the welfare of children in the EYFS promoted? 1 How effectively is provision in the EYFS led and managed?

p.9

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 1 How well learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make progress

p.9

Achievement and standards

1 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: Canada Hill Community Primary School, 20 November 2008

p.9

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 The extent to which 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

p.10

learners' needs?

How well do the curriculum and other activities meet the range of needs and interests of learners? 1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

p.10

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 1 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination eliminated 1 How well does the school contribute to community cohesion? 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: Canada Hill Community Primary School, 20 November 2008

p.10

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

21 November 2008 Dear Children, Inspection of Canada Hill Community Primary School, Newton Abbot TQ12 6YS Thank you for welcoming us to your school recently. We really enjoyed our visit and valued the opportunities we had to talk with some of you and see you in your lessons. In return, I want to tell you what we thought of your school. We have decided yours is an outstanding school. This means we were impressed with everything we saw and, in particular, your enthusiasm to learn. You really are a credit to your parents and the school. Here are some of the things we particularly liked about your school.

p.11

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ When you begin school, you settle very well and enjoy your learning.

p.11

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You are highly motivated and eager to succeed.

p.11

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You work well together in lessons and include one another at playtimes.

p.11

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You know how to keep safe and make sensible, healthy choices when eating.

p.11

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You have many opportunities to get involved in your community, and to raise money for good causes. ■ Your parents appreciate all the hard work the school does to keep them well informed of your work and progress. ■ You enjoy and make the most of a fantastic curriculum, which your teachers work very hard to make exciting for you. ■ Those of you who do not always find learning easy or have difficulties to overcome make equally outstanding progress. ■ By the time you leave school at the end of Year 6, your progress and achievements are outstanding. Although you go to an outstanding school, there will always be room to improve in whatever we set ourselves to do. Therefore, we have asked the school to take the following action. Use marking to help pupils in Key Stage 1 understand their targets and how to improve their work. With very best wishes for your continued success Yours sincerely David Edwards Her Majesty's Inspector

p.11

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

11 of 11 Inspection Report: Canada Hill Community Primary School, 20 November 2008

p.11