Mansbridge Primary School

Mansbridge Primary School Inspection report

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116117 Unique Reference Number Southampton Local Authority 312183 Inspection number 31 January °1 February 2008 Inspection dates Graham Stephens 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 172 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Iain MacGregor Chair Mr Mark Sheehan Headteacher 23 June 2003 Date of previous school inspection Octavia Road School address Swaythling Southampton SO18 2LX 023 8055 6691 Telephone number 023 8058 2270 Fax number

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4-11 Age group 31 January °1 February 2008 Inspection dates 312183 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 two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

The school is smaller than many primary schools. It serves a community that includes some areas with very high levels of social deprivation. The proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is twice the national average. The percentage of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is well above the national average. The proportion of pupils who do not speak English as their first language is above average and is increasing. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is also above average. There have been considerable changes of staff since the last inspection. More pupils enter and leave the school at times other than the beginning of the school year than in most schools.

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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: Mansbridge Primary School, 31 January °1 February 2008

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Grade: 2

Mansbridge is a rapidly improving school. It presents a secure and friendly environment. Excellent systems of support and guidance ensure that pupils flourish and achieve well. 'It is a well run school that has improved greatly', said one parent. The school has made good progress since the last inspection. During that time, there have been several changes of staff and, for a period, a declining roll. However, numbers are now rising rapidly. Good and often outstanding teaching ensures that pupils now achieve well throughout the school. Pupils' progress is tracked and monitored very carefully and teachers make excellent use of this information to set challenging targets. By the end of Year 6, standards are now broadly in line with national averages in English, mathematics and science. Standards in mathematics have improved very rapidly and pupils demonstrate positive attitudes towards the subject. Evidence shows that pupils in Year 6 are

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Grade: 2

achieving very well, making up for the slow start they experienced in Years 3 and 4 when there were significant pockets of underachievement. Teachers do not all have high expectations regarding the presentation of pupils' work and standards in this area are variable. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding. They co-operate well, are unfailingly courteous to adults and are keen to share their work and experiences. They move around the school in a calm and purposeful manner. They enjoy school and relish the opportunities to visit places of interest and attend the many clubs that the well-organised and stimulating curriculum provides. 'Even the children in Reception have the Happy Feet dance club', exclaimed one older pupil. They talk confidently about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and the meals provided support healthy eating well. Older pupils visit and support children in the Reception class because, as

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Grade: 2

one pupil explained, 'it helps little children settle and not be afraid'. Links with the wider community are well established. Although attendance has recently improved, a small minority of pupils still do not attend regularly. Pupils with English as an additional language make good progress. Resources, well matched to their needs, support learning well. Excellent systems exist to monitor and support pupils with learning difficulties relating to English and mathematics. Well-trained and perceptive learning support assistants support these pupils well. Pupils with emotional needs are well supported in the Resource class known as the 'Den'. 'If you've got any problems you just pop in the Den and they sort them out', said one pupil. Leadership and management are good overall. The headteacher, very well supported by his deputy, has shown drive, determination and focus to raise standards and improve achievement.

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Grade: 2

All staff share the headteacher's vision and consequently support him well. The needs of the school are accurately prioritised and reflected in its school improvement plan. Governors have a good understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses and hold the school to account well for the standards achieved.

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Grade: 2

Children enter the Foundation Stage with levels of knowledge, skills and understanding that are well below those expected for their age. Although they make good progress, most children do not reach the expected levels by the time they enter Year 1. Children benefit from a well-organised curriculum and good teaching. Staff understand how young children learn. They provide a good range of activities that include opportunities for children to explore for 4 of 11 Inspection Report: Mansbridge Primary School, 31 January °1 February 2008 themselves and others that are adult led. Facilities in the outdoor learning area are good. There is a strong emphasis on personal development and consequently children cooperate and play together well. They are beginning to show an increased understanding of what is expected of them. Skilled teaching of letter sounds and opportunities to write and describe the things they

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Grade: 2

have done encourage the development of language and communication skills. Rigorous systems of assessment keep staff well informed of the progress children make. Staff work hard to establish good links with parents. Very good induction procedures ensure that children settle quickly. They enjoy the wide range of experiences provided within a very safe and secure environment.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Raise standards further in English, mathematics and science.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that all staff have high expectations with regard to the presentation of pupils' work.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that the small minority of pupils who fail to attend regularly improve their attendance.

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Grade: 2

The majority of pupils, including those who need additional support with literacy and mathematics, those who speak English as an additional language and the more able, now achieve well in relation to their previous attainment. Pupils enter Year 1 with levels of knowledge and skills that are at least below what is expected for their age. None attained the higher levels in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Year 2 in 2007 assessments. Achievement in Years 1 and 2 has improved and is now good. Standards are rising. Last year there was a sharp rise in standards in English and science at the end of Year 6 but not in mathematics where progress, although improving, was too slow. The school responded with vigour to increase the rate of achievement. More time is devoted to mathematics and pupils enjoy lessons because they engender a real sense of purpose. Pupils in Key Stage 2 now make good progress overall.

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Grade: 2

As a result, standards have risen rapidly and are now average in mathematics as well as science and English by the end of Year 6.

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Grade: 2

Personal development and well-being, including the spiritual, moral, social and cultural dimensions, are good. Pupils enjoy school, one saying, 'School is fun'. Year 6 'Mansbridge Monitors' care for Reception children at lunch times and gain a very good understanding of their responsibilities to others. Pupils respond well to the support they are given. Pupils from the different ethnic groups get on well together. Through visits and visitors, pupils are developing a very good understanding of their own culture and of life in a multicultural society. Attendance rates have improved and are now broadly average overall although a small number of pupils still miss too much school. Pupils feel safe and know what constitutes a healthy life-style. The school gained the Healthy Schools Award in 2007. Year 6 pupils sell fruit and vegetables each day for snacks. Pupils contribute towards decision-making. One member of the school council said, 'School dinners

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Grade: 2

are healthy because we talked about it in the council.' Pupils develop the personal qualities that will enable them to contribute effectively to the community. Standards attained make a satisfactory contribution to future economic well-being. 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Mansbridge Primary School, 31 January °1 February 2008

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Grade: 2

Teachers present their lessons with confidence and enthusiasm. Consequently, pupils are motivated, listen well and respond positively to the tasks set. Teachers use the wide variety of assessment information well to ensure that they meet all pupils' learning needs including the more able, those with English as an additional language, and others who need additional guidance with aspects of their work. They have high expectations of pupils' progress. Learning support assistants successfully motivate pupils and help ensure that all play a full and active part in lessons. Teachers are skilled at asking questions that encourage pupils to reflect and explain their thinking. They also check to find out what pupils have learned and understood so that they can successfully build on what the pupils know and can do. Presentation of work varies from class to class. Teachers have an inconsistent approach to this aspect of pupils' work

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Grade: 2

and do not always act as good role-models themselves when presenting work to the pupils.

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Grade: 2

Good planning, teaching and support means that children get off to a good start. The curriculum for pupils in Years 1 to 6 is good and supports the good achievement of all groups of pupils. It is very well planned with an increasing emphasis on links between subjects to make them relevant to pupils and to give them more opportunities to develop their literacy, numeracy and social skills. The school's very good emphasis on personal, social and health education has led to the good personal development and well-being of all pupils. New technology is used well, with all classes having an interactive whiteboard and pupils having ready access to laptops. There is a good range of extra-curricular activities that includes sports, music, drama and cycling proficiency. Pupils are especially proud to be able to grow their own vegetables, harvest and eat them. A Year 6 residential visit supports pupils' social and personal development as well as

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Grade: 1

The quality of care, guidance and support is outstanding. The excellent tracking and monitoring systems underpin the recent rapid improvement in achievement throughout the school. Links with outside agencies are excellent, and include a weekly 'drop-in' clinic for parents and carers. As one parent wrote, 'there are always people available for offering help and advice, no matter how trivial'. Effective systems and high expectations regarding behaviour have resulted in a significant decline in exclusions and an improvement in pupils' attendance. The excellent, well-attended breakfast club supports pupils' social skills very well. Well-planned intervention by learning support assistants ensures that pupils with learning difficulties related to English and mathematics achieve well. 'The Den' provides outstanding support for pupils with emotional needs. Pupils understand their personal targets for improvement and what they need to do to

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Grade: 1

reach them. Health and safety procedures and child protection measures are robust and meet government requirements. 6 of 11 Inspection Report: Mansbridge Primary School, 31 January °1 February 2008

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Grade: 2

The headteacher, very well supported by his deputy, senior colleagues, all staff and governors, presents strong leadership. Together they have galvanised the school to take action to improve achievement and raise standards. This is reflected in the good progress pupils have recently begun to make, the vast improvement in behaviour and the very good learning environment created. All staff and pupils understand the school's objectives and consequently cooperate well to achieve them. Very secure systems exist to monitor and further improve the quality of teaching and learning. As a result, teaching has improved. However, expectations with regard to the presentation of work are inconsistent especially with regard to handwriting and the setting out of diagrams and figures in mathematics. The school acknowledges that this needs to improve. The progress of every pupil is closely monitored. Achievement against targets is

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Grade: 2

discussed with teachers regularly and remedial action taken if necessary. Detailed analysis keeps senior managers well informed and confirms that progress is now accelerating rapidly. Subject leaders have a good understanding of strengths and weaknesses in their subjects and have clear priorities for further improvement. Governors hold the school to account for the standards it achieves and support the headteacher well. Resources are deployed effectively, for example to support vulnerable pupils. The school represents good value for money. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: Mansbridge Primary School, 31 January °1 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: Mansbridge Primary School, 31 January °1 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? 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 3 The attendance of learners 1 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?

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. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: Mansbridge Primary School, 31 January °1 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: Mansbridge Primary School, 31 January °1 February 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

14 February 2008 Dear Pupils Inspection of Mansbridge Primary School,Southampton,SO18 2LX Thank you for being so friendly and welcoming when we visited your school. We really enjoyed talking to you and listening to all that you had to say. You really helped us with the inspection. There are many things about Mansbridge Primary School that you appreciate and enjoy. Here are the things we like about your school.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You behave very well and are courteous and polite.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Those of you who either visit the Den, or need extra help with your work, or are learning to speak English for the first time, receive very good support. ■ You know your targets for learning and how to achieve them.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your teachers give you many interesting things to do and you are making good progress.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

All schools, even yours, could improve and these are the things we think you could do better.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Raise standards even more in English, mathematics and science.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Make sure that you always present your work neatly.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ A few of you miss too much school and need to improve your attendance.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Again, it was good to meet you all and may I wish you success in the future. Graham Stephens Lead Inspector 11 of 11 Inspection Report: Mansbridge Primary School, 31 January °1 February 2008

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