Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England School

Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England School Inspection report

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123133 Unique Reference Number Oxfordshire Local Authority 314509 Inspection number 24 June 2008 Inspection date Alison Grainger 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 Voluntary controlled School category 4 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 187 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mr S Brown Chair Mrs B A O'Dwyer Headteacher 7 February 2005 Date of previous school inspection Old Reading Road School address Crowmarsh Gifford Wallingford OX10 8EN 01491 836785 Telephone number 01491 836785 Fax number

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4-11 Age group 24 June 2008 Inspection date 314509 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.

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Introduction

■ Provision for children in the Reception Year.

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Introduction

■ The influence of teaching and academic guidance on pupils' progress.

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Introduction

■ Pupils' personal development and well-being.

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Introduction

■ The contribution of leaders and managers at all levels to school improvement.

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Introduction

Evidence was gathered from the school's data on pupils' progress; visits to lessons and scrutiny of pupils' work; observation of an assembly; discussions with staff, governors, parents and pupils; and analysis of responses to the parents' questionnaire. Other aspects of the school's work were not investigated in detail but the inspector found no evidence to suggest that the school's own assessments of these areas, as given in its self-evaluation, were not justified, and these have been included where appropriate in this report.

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Description of the school

Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. Very few pupils from other ethnic backgrounds are at an early stage of learning English as an additional language. The percentage of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for free school meals is also below average. Children begin school with a wide range of individual attainment. Taking the intake as a whole, most children start the Reception Year with skills at least at the level expected for their age. There have been several staff changes since the last inspection. The current headteacher has been in post since January 2007.

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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: Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England School, 24 June 2008

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Grade: 2

This is a good school. It is improving rapidly as a result of the outstandingly clear educational direction provided by the headteacher and the strong teamwork of staff. Pupils are pleased with the changes that have been made over the last year or so. They point out that they enjoy school a lot more now because teachers are making lessons increasingly interactive and practical. They identify that this has brought improvements in behaviour. Pupils say that they want to behave well and that almost all of them do so all of the time. In lessons and around the school, behaviour is now of a very high standard. Attitudes to learning are very good and most pupils enjoy school a good deal as the above average attendance rate shows. Many parents value the school's 'friendly, happy atmosphere'. One parent commented on 'vast improvement' in 'the pastoral care and sense of well-being amongst staff and pupils'. Pastoral

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Grade: 2

care and the arrangements for safeguarding pupils are excellent. Pupils are sure that they have an adult to whom they can turn should the need arise and really value the pastoral role of the teaching assistants. Pupils say that they feel very safe at school. They know a lot about how to stay safe in school and outside. As a result of the high quality attention to pupils' welfare, and the very effective programme of personal, social and health education, pupils' personal development and well-being are outstanding. Extra-curricular activities, such as clubs, visits and visitors also make a strong contribution to pupils' personal development, including their skills in working together in teams. Pupils have a very good understanding of how to keep fit and healthy through diet and exercise and put this awareness into practice. They 'love' the very healthy school lunches and point out that, since these have been on offer, many pupils who used to have packed lunches now choose

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Grade: 2

to have school lunches. Pupils make an exceptional contribution to the school and wider community. The school council represents pupils' views very well. Responsibilities are undertaken diligently, including those involving older pupils in looking after younger ones. Much is done to raise funds for charities. Pupils entertain senior citizens and care for the environment. All in all, pupils are very socially aware and sensitive to the needs of others. Pupils are well prepared for their future lives, not only because of the very good personal attributes they develop but also because they make good progress with their work. Achievement is good and overall standards are significantly above average at the end of Year 6. Results in the national tests at the end of Years 2 and 6 show that pupils have not been making consistently good progress since the last inspection. However, effective action has been taken and pupils

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Grade: 2

are once again progressing at a good rate across the school. Almost all are making at least the expected progress in relation to their starting points and capabilities and many are doing better. The school is aware that at the end of Year 6, and even in the Reception class, pupils are reaching higher standards in mathematics than in English. It knows that English standards need to rise to match those in mathematics. Pupils are currently making good progress because teaching and the curriculum are good. A strong emphasis on assessment means that most teaching is well focussed on what pupils should be learning next, with activities varied to take account of pupils' different capabilities. Pupils are told the purpose of lessons so that they know what they are aiming to achieve. Teaching assistants are well deployed to support groups and individuals and this is particularly helping pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Throughout the school, lessons are

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Grade: 2

characterised by a calm and productive atmosphere. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England School, 24 June 2008 Within the curriculum, an increased emphasis on practical and problem solving activities is helping pupils to reach particularly high standards in mathematics. The school has rightly improved its resources for reading, increased opportunities for writing in different subjects and developed the use of drama strategies as means of raising standards in English. While these developments are supporting progress well, the school recognises that there is still further to go. The school has been working to improve the guidance given to pupils about how well they are doing and how they can improve their performance. In some classes, there is good practice in the use of individual targets and marking. However, this is not yet consistent across the school. Marking does not always tell pupils what they have done well and what they need to work on

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Grade: 2

next. Targets are not always well enough understood by pupils or presented in a way that is sufficiently focussed and clear. Good leadership and management at all levels, accurate self-evaluation, and a recent track record of significant improvement, show that the school has good capacity to become even more effective. A few parents would like the school to communicate better with them. There is already much good communication with parents. However, the school is willing to review its practice in the light of feedback from parents. It has very recently undertaken a survey of parents' views with this in mind.

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Grade: 2

Provision for Reception children is very much better than at the last inspection with significant developments having taken place recently. A new outdoor area is making a tremendous difference to the learning opportunities provided so that the curriculum and teaching are now good, with time used purposefully to support learning. There are occasions, however, when there are missed opportunities for teaching assistants to interact with children to move learning on more quickly. Developments, such as in the teaching of sounds and letters, are resulting in current standards being higher than in the past. Almost all children now in Reception are on course to reach most of the goals expected for their age and, in many areas, a good proportion of children are exceeding these standards. Children are well cared for. Parents are pleased with the start given to their children. As one observed, 'My daughter loves her school, teacher, and

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Grade: 2

is making great strides forward.' The leadership of Foundation Stage provision is good.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Raise standards in English to match those in mathematics.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure that all pupils are given clear guidance on what they are already doing well and on what they need to do next to improve their performance. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England School, 24 June 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: Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England School, 24 June 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?

1 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 2 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?

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: Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England School, 24 June 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? 8 of 9 Inspection Report: Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England School, 24 June 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

04 July 2008 Dear Pupils Inspection of Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England School,Wallingford,OX10 8EN Thank you for helping me when I visited your school. I enjoyed talking with you. The school council representatives that I met told me that your school is getting better and that you are enjoying it more. They said that you like having more practical activities in lessons and more opportunities to get actively involved. They told me that they think the school is good and I agree with them. Almost all of you behave very well all of the time which means that your behaviour is very good. I saw how sensibly you behave in lessons and around the school. All of you that I spoke with were very polite and helpful. I found out that you know a huge amount about how to keep fit and healthy. I am not surprised that you love the school lunches. They look very healthy and appetising. You told me that you feel safe in school and you also know a lot about how to keep safe. The adults take very good

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

care of you. As a result of the improvements that the school has made recently, you are making good progress with your work. This is because teaching and the curriculum are good. The good support for your learning begins in the Reception Year where there are now many interesting activities both indoors and outside. All of you are lucky to have so many activities in addition to lessons, such as clubs, visits, and visitors who teach you new skills. There are two things that I have asked the school to do now.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Help you to reach standards in English that are as high as your standards in mathematics. At the moment, the standard of your work is highest in mathematics. ■ Make sure that you are all given clear advice on how well you are doing and on what you need to work on next. You can help by continuing to behave well and by always doing your best. Yours sincerely Alison Grainger Lead Inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Crowmarsh Gifford Church of England School, 24 June 2008

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