Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School

Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School Inspection report

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122012 Unique Reference Number Northamptonshire Local Authority 314188 Inspection number 12 December 2007 Inspection date Arnalena Bee 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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First Type of school Voluntary controlled School category 4 °9 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 101 School The governing body Appropriate authority Adrian Sarjeant Chair Rachel Dempster Headteacher 1 May 2003 Date of previous school inspection Park Street School address Kings Cliffe Peterborough PE8 6XN 01780 470259 Telephone number 01780 470259 Fax number

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4-9 Age group 12 December 2007 Inspection date 314188 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 Additional Inspector. The inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues. These were whether pupils make better progress in reading and writing than they do in mathematics, whether or not the quality of teaching varies within classes or from subject to subject, and, whether issues from the previous inspection report relating to standards and use of information and communication technology (ICT) have been addressed. Evidence was gathered from the school’s self-evaluation, nationally published assessment data, the school’s own assessment records, and other school documentation. Observations of the school at work, interviews with senior leaders and managers, governors, pupils, and parent questionnaires also provided evidence. Other aspects of the school’s work, such as the curriculum, were not investigated in detail but the inspector found

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Introduction

no evidence to suggest that the school’s own assessments, as given in its self-evaluation, were not justified. Whilst carrying out the activities mentioned above, a few outstanding elements within some aspects were identified and these have been included in the report where appropriate.

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Description of the school

Kings Cliffe Endowed is a lower school, which serves the village of Kings Cliffe and six other surrounding villages. Almost all pupils are from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils who are identified as having learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well below average.

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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: Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School, 12 December 2007

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Grade: 2

Kings Cliffe is a good school with a number of outstanding features related to strengths in pupils' personal development and its partnership with parents and the local middle school. A key to the school's success and pupils' good achievement is the good leadership and management. The headteacher is passionate that both pupils and staff have a happy time in school and that all pupils do their very best in all that they do. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of all her work and she is valued by pupils, staff and governors. The school has an accurate idea of how well it is doing. Systems for monitoring and evaluating the work of the school are good and the headteacher is continually striving to improve them further. The monitoring of teaching is thorough and priorities for improvement have been correctly identified. The two senior leaders and managers support the headteacher well. The governors support and

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Grade: 2

challenge the school effectively. They are well focused and involved in the work of the school. Good improvements have been made since the previous inspection and the school has a good capacity to improve further. Staff have very high expectations that pupils will do well in all areas of learning. As a result, the school achieves a successful balance between promoting pupils' personal development and academic achievement. Teaching is generally of a good standard and is the main reason for pupils' good achievement throughout the school. Teaching assistants contribute well to the good learning that goes on in most lessons. Relationships between all adults who work in the classrooms and the pupils are very good. Teachers regularly make lessons even more exciting by using the interactive whiteboards. The recent whole school focus on reading and writing has resulted in consistently good teaching in these areas. The

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Grade: 2

teaching of mathematics in Years 1 and 2 is not always so consistently good. This is because teachers do not always match explanations and activities accurately to the needs and abilities of all pupils. Marking in mathematics is not always of the generally high standard seen in English and teachers do not consistently identify what pupils need to do to improve. Standards are well above average in reading and writing at the end of Year 2 and above average in mathematics. By the time pupils leave in Year 4, standards are well above the levels expected in English and mathematics, and above the levels expected in science and ICT. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities achieve as well as their classmates because they are well supported. The rich curriculum also contributes to pupils' good achievement. It focuses very effectively on pupils' personal, social and health education (PSHE) and the outstanding activities arranged reinforce

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Grade: 2

learning both inside and outside school and enhance learning in many curriculum areas. Pupils speak very enthusiastically about visitors who come into school to work with them and about visits out that they have been involved in. An impressive number of after school clubs are offered, considering the size of the school. Provision for ICT has improved well since the school was inspected last. The ICT suite is well resourced, as are all classrooms with their two computers and interactive whiteboards. The atmosphere was buzzing in the computer suite as pupils in Year 3 developed their understanding of carol diagrams by using the computers. Learning was good as the pupils thought hard, and sensibly explained what they were doing. Partnerships with other institutions are a specific strength of the school and are excellent. There are many very good links with the local middle school. For example, not only are transition procedures

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Grade: 2

very good but, because of lack of space at Kings Cliffe, their facilities are used when the school does a performance, such as at Christmas. The school has very good links with local people to enrich the curriculum and promote learning further. In addition, links with specialist agencies to ensure that pupils with specific needs are catered for are also very good. Pupils are cared for very well. Attention to health and safety arrangements in and around school is outstanding. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School, 12 December 2007 The school excels in making all pupils feel special and nurtures their personal development to enable them to develop into very confident and polite individuals. As a result, attitudes to learning and behaviour are outstanding. As one parent wrote, 'We feel very fortunate that both our children have spent their earliest years at school here. We could not have wished for better.'

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Grade: 2

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good overall. However, pupils' understanding about the diversity of cultures in modern Britain is not so strong. Pupils thoroughly enjoy school and all that it entails. Pupils speak with appreciation and great enthusiasm about the importance of learning and the exciting and interesting activities that are planned for them. They sensibly take on responsibility around the school, for example as they act as 'buddies' at playtime. Older pupils speak maturely and with sensitivity about raising money and doing kind deeds for people who are not as well off as they are in the local community and the wider world. Pupils are proud that their school is a healthy school and like getting the stickers that are given out when they bring a healthy packed lunch. They have an excellent understanding of the need to live a healthy lifestyle. In addition, pupils speak very

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Grade: 2

maturely about why it is important to drink water regularly. As one Year 4 pupil said, 'Eating healthily makes you nice and strong and think better.' Similarly, pupils show a very good understanding of the need to keep themselves safe. Not only are they aware of potential dangers in school and at home, such as electricity, pupils speak maturely about road and water safety. The work of the school council is impressive. Councillors instigated the colourful bins in the playground that collect the daily playground rubbish. Pupils talk about these bins with pride. As one of them said, 'We had a competition, it was really good. Look, the winners had their designs and their names painted on the bins.' Another project the councillors started, and which is now enjoyed by everyone, is the delightful area that has been developed where pupils can sit, reflect and watch the birds. Pupils develop mature thoughts about why learning is

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Grade: 2

important. This is because they have such good opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge, both personally and academically, that will help them in the future lives. Older pupils know that how well they learn in school affects the choices they will be able to make in the world of work.

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Grade: 2

The leadership and management of the Foundation Stage are good. Children are very well cared for and taught well. As a result, children quickly develop very positive attitudes to learning and thoroughly enjoy all that they do. Children behave very well and are keen to show what they have learnt. As one four year old proudly said, 'Excuse me, do you know I can spell 'yes' and 'no' now?' Children's personal and social skills are promoted effectively at all times. All children reach, and many exceed, the expected levels in all areas by the time they start in Year 1. This represents good progress in relation to their starting points. Parents are not only pleased with the good progress their children make, they are also very pleased with how quickly their children settle into school. This is because they, as parents, are very well informed beforehand and, as a result, the children know what to expect when they start. One parent said it all when she

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Grade: 2

wrote, 'My son is very happy and I am amazed how much he is learning.'

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that, in all parts of the school, pupils achieve well in mathematics.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Improve pupils' understanding of the rich diversity of cultures in our society. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School, 12 December 2007 .

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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: Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School, 12 December 2007

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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 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?

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: Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School, 12 December 2007

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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: Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School, 12 December 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ 12 December 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School, Kings Cliffe PE8 6XN Thank you for making me so welcome when I came to visit you. I really enjoyed talking to you about the exciting and interesting things you do as you learn. I thought that your Christmas tree looked so pretty and I was amazed that all the decorations had been made from things you had collected. I particularly liked the conkers you had covered in gold glitter and hung on the tree. You go to a good school and some things are excellent. I am writing to let you know what I found out about your school. Very interesting activities are planned for you that enable you to learn in an exciting way. Many of you told me how you have developed an exciting area where you can feed and watch the birds. You make good progress because teaching is good. Your parents agree that the way you are cared for by everyone at school is outstanding. You have learnt lots about why you should always keep

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

yourself safe and lead a healthy lifestyle. You are all kind and considerate and very polite. It was nice to hear how you raise money and do kind things for people who are not as fortunate as you are. By the time you leave school in Year 4 you are very well prepared for your next school. I have asked the school to do two things to make it even better. ■ Make sure that you learn well in all numeracy lessons...

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Help you to learn more about the different cultural traditions, religions and beliefs that are found in our world. Keep working hard and having great fun as you learn Yours sincerely Nina Bee Lead inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School, 12 December 2007

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Annex B

Inspection of Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School, Kings Cliffe PE8 6XN

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Annex B

Thank you for making me so welcome when I came to visit you. I really enjoyed talking to you about the exciting and interesting things you do as you learn. I thought that your Christmas tree looked so pretty and I was amazed that all the decorations had been made from things you had collected. I particularly liked the conkers you had covered in gold glitter and hung on the tree. You go to a good school and some things are excellent.

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Annex B

I am writing to let you know what I found out about your school.

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Annex B

☺ Very interesting activities are planned for you that enable you to learn in an exciting way. Many of you told me how you have developed an exciting area where you can feed and watch the birds. ☺ You make good progress because teaching is good. ☺ Your parents agree that the way you are cared for by everyone at School is outstanding. ☺ You have learnt lots about why you should always keep yourself safe and lead a healthy lifestyle. ☺ You are all kind and considerate and very polite. It was nice to hear how you raise money and do kind things for people who are not as fortunate as you are. ☺ By the time you leave school in Year 4 you are very well prepared for your next school.

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Annex B

I have asked the school to do two things to make it even better.

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Annex B

• Make sure that you learn well in all numeracy lessons... • Help you to learn more about the different cultural traditions, religions and beliefs that are found in our world.

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Annex B

Keep working hard and having great fun as you learn

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