Setting

Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404040 F 020 7421 6855 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

Mrs Lupton Headteacher Crook Primary School Croft Avenue Crook County Durham DL15 8QG

p.1

Ofsted survey inspection programme – Design and Technology

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation, and that of your staff, during my visit on 01 November to look at work in Design and Technology (D&T).

p.1

Ofsted survey inspection programme – Design and Technology

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our national evaluation and reporting. Published reports are likely to list the names of the contributing institutions but individual institutions will not be identified in the main text. All feedback letters will be published on the Ofsted website at the end of each half-term.

p.1

Ofsted survey inspection programme – Design and Technology

The evidence used to inform the judgements made included: interviews with staff and learners, scrutiny of relevant documentation, analysis of pupils’ work and observation of three lessons.

p.1

Ofsted survey inspection programme – Design and Technology

The overall effectiveness of D&T was judged to be good with outstanding features.

p.1

Achievement and standards

Achievement and standards in D&T are good.

p.1

Achievement and standards

 Pupils’ D&T skills and capabilities are well below average when they start at the school. They make good progress and by the end of Year 6, standards are average.  Capabilities when working with rigid materials, food, systems and control are quickly and systematically developed. Pupils’ ability to apply making skills to enterprise activities such as the ‘Crazy Crook Crunchies’, is an outstanding feature. The school knows design skills, although good, are not as well advanced and has made this a priority for improvement.  Another outstanding feature is children’s ability to use computers and ICT equipment very effectively to research and communicate design information.  Pupils speak positively and with great enthusiasm about the benefits of D&T and what they learn in the subject.

p.1

Quality of teaching and learning

The quality of teaching and learning in D&T is good.

p.2

Quality of teaching and learning

 Teachers set good expectations for themselves and the pupils. A willingness to set standards and demonstrate personal skills is a matter of routine. Good quality teaching and learning in D&T is evident across the year groups. The planning of lessons is rigorous and generic teaching skills are an outstanding feature. Hallmarks include highly effective questioning, clear explanations and high levels of individual support.  Assessment practice is good. Work is rigorously assessed and recorded against national levels. Pupils know how well they are doing in D&T and receive good advice on how to improve.

p.2

Quality of the curriculum

 The curriculum is planned well to meet the needs of the National Curriculum in D&T. A good range of tools, materials and components are used. Pupils’ subject knowledge and making skills are sound from a low starting point. The work undertaken with many visiting experts is an outstanding feature.  Progress in developing design skills is not as rapid and the school is working to improve them in more depth at an earlier age. It knows the progressive use of more demanding design tasks will further improve quality.

p.2

Leadership and management of D&T

Leadership and management of D&T are good.

p.2

Leadership and management of D&T

 Leadership is consistently good at all levels. The school’s capacity to ensure D&T thrives is very good, particularly when set against the many other priorities the school has to face.  Subject strengths and areas for development are accurately evaluated. Evidence to support the self-evaluation includes many examples of high quality records produced by pupils using ICT equipment very effectively. For example, the school operates an internal television company. A small group of pupils designed and produced a digital programme of ongoing D&T work shortly before the visit.

p.2

Inclusion

The involvement and standards achieved by all groups of pupils, particularly the well above average number with learning difficulties, is very good in D&T.

p.2

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

 more systematic development of design skills.

p.3

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop D&T in the school.

p.3

Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

As I explained in my previous letter, a copy of this letter will be sent to your Local Authority and will be published on the Ofsted website. It will also be available to the team for your next institutional inspection.

p.3