Purbrook Junior School

Purbrook Junior School Inspection report

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116022 Unique Reference Number Hampshire Local Authority 312150 Inspection number 26 March 2008 Inspection date Linda Kelsey HMI 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 384 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Jacqueline Coonie Chair Mr Kevin Parfoot Headteacher 17 November 2003 Date of previous school inspection Aldermoor Road East School address Purbrook Waterlooville PO7 5NQ 02392 254577 Telephone number 02392 259552 Fax number

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7-11 Age group 26 March 2008 Inspection date 312150 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 of Her Majesty's Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This large junior school shares a site with the neighbouring infant school from where most pupils transfer. The school is organised into three parallel classes for each of the four-year groups and, in English and mathematics, four teaching groups are formed across the two top year groups. The school has gained the Activemark (gold) and the Artsmark (silver) awards. The number of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is just above the national average, their needs being mainly speech and language or specific learning difficulties. Pupils are almost all of White British heritage. There are no pupils learning English as an additional language. Inspectors evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues: whether the achievement of pupils is good throughout the school and across all subjects, whether Every Child Matters (ECM) outcomes are as strong as the provision suggest and whether

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Description of the school

the right actions are being taken by the leadership team to ensure continuing success. Other aspects of the school's work were not investigated in detail, but inspectors found no evidence to suggest that the school's own self-assessment are given in the self evaluation were not justified, and these have been included where appropriate in the report.

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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: Purbrook Junior School, 26 March 2008

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Grade: 2

This is a good school because the leadership and management are outstanding and have brought about effective change by identifying the correct areas, such as improving teaching. Since the last inspection the school has worked exceptionally well with other partners, and has continued to get better, so that it now provides an effective education for all its pupils, whatever their need. It is one where pupils and members of staff want to work. The capacity for further improvement is good. The majority of parents have great confidence in the school and its leadership and choose to send their children here. As one parent wrote, 'The headteacher has made an impressive impact; the children respect him and are willing to engage positively with him.' Standards are above average. This represents good progress for pupils from their starting points in Year 3, where the range of ability is wide, but is broadly average overall. In some years, the

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Grade: 2

proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD) is above average. However, because teaching is well focused on their needs, these pupils also make good progress. While standards are above average in English by Year 6, they remain stubbornly average for mathematics and science. The school rightly recognises that it has to work hard to ensure that standards, particularly in mathematics, are as high as they can be. Pupils progress well because teaching and learning are good. Members of staff know the pupils well and plan interesting and challenging lessons for them. Teachers maintain a good pace throughout many lessons by using a good range of strategies. These include a good balance of partner and group work, whole class discussion and teacher talk. Teachers mark pupils' work well and encourage them to do better. They engage pupils into thinking for themselves and build on their problem solving skills so that many work independently and without fuss. Where

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Grade: 2

teaching is outstanding, the teachers use very good questioning techniques and maintain an excellent balance of coaching as well as enabling pupils to work alone, or with partners. The lessons planned are very purposeful and challenging and aimed at pupils achieving the highest levels of work. Many pupils in Year 6 are striving successfully to achieve the targets set for them this year. The most able pupils benefit from the specialist group teaching in English and mathematics, and this is helping to drive up standards generally. The personal development and well-being of pupils are outstanding. Their behaviour is exemplary; they enjoy school, work hard and want to do well in their studies, having high expectations of their own ability and aspirations. It is no surprise therefore that attendance is above average. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. Pupils know how to stay fit and healthy and regularly bring fresh fruit to school, take opportunities to walk whenever

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Grade: 2

possible and take part in sporting events and after school clubs. Some sing locally with the school choir and others raise funds for those less fortunate in the local community and around the world. These activities plus their good skills in literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology prepare them well for the future. The curriculum is outstanding and is of a high quality in many subjects, such as English, French, religious education, music and art. Much of this was apparent at the time of the last inspection. There is some exceptionally good artwork on display around the school. This illustrates the talents of many children. There are excellent opportunities offered along with a wide array of extra activities after school. Pupils go on trips and have visiting artists to the school. The residential trip in Year 5 has proved very popular with pupils and parents. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Purbrook Junior School, 26 March 2008

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Grade: 2

Care, guidance and support are outstanding; pupils feel safe and are happy. Safeguarding procedures are fully in place and there is a designated child protection officer. Pupils like the 'buddy system' because it allows older pupils to help the youngest members of the school. The school council has been instrumental in suggesting improvements such as the games equipment at lunch and playtime. They are pleased their views are considered. Pupils know where to go to ask for extra help and feel very well supported. As one pupil said in her summation of the school, 'You are guaranteed a smile by someone when you walk down a corridor'. Assessment data and the systems used to track pupils' progress are excellent; the management of this by the deputy headteacher is outstanding. The information is analysed very well to gauge trends and ascertain whether pupils are making sufficient progress. As a result systems, such as the

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Grade: 2

use of teaching assistants, focused support and booster classes are successful strategies used to enable pupils to make better progress. The school uses its resources well and, even though the hall is small for the number of pupils, it does use this facility well at lunchtime and for whole school assemblies. The school has very strong links with outside agencies and governors are very knowledgeable about the school. They offer good help in monitoring its progress and know where there are weaknesses. The strong leadership, attention to professional development, and good practice, as well as the sharing of strategic roles and responsibilities are reasons why this school is so successful and popular with parents.

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What the school should do to improve further

As identified in the school development plan, the school should specifically focus on improving the proportion of pupils achieving average and above average levels in English, mathematics and science. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Purbrook Junior School, 26 March 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: Purbrook Junior School, 26 March 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? 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 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: Purbrook Junior School, 26 March 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: Purbrook Junior School, 26 March 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

04 April 2008 Dear Pupils Inspection of Purbrook Junior School,Waterlooville,PO7 5NQ I enjoyed meeting and talking to many of you during my one day visit to your school for the inspection. I was so pleased to see you all happy and working hard to achieve well in your lessons. You rightly told me about the excellent care and support you get, how well you get on with each other and how you all feel you can contribute to the success of the school through fund raising and membership of the school council. Many of your parents have also told me about how the school helps to make you more confident and prepares you well for secondary school. I agree with them. You have shown how well you can do in English and I think you could do better in mathematics as well and the school agrees with me. They have plans to make sure that they watch your progress here more closely so that your work in mathematics matches that in English. Many of

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

you told me how much you enjoy other subjects such as art, music, sport and French. The quality of your work here is also good. Your teachers work very hard to make sure your lessons are interesting, challenging and just right for you. They do this each day and this is why so many of you do well. Your behaviour at school is excellent and you are a credit to your parents and teachers. I hope you will continue to work and play hard and behave as well as you can. In this way, as well as your excellent suggestions for improvement, you will help your good school get even better. I wish you all the best of luck for your future success. Linda Kelsey HMI 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Purbrook Junior School, 26 March 2008

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