Setting

Mr A Martin Headteacher Greasby Junior School Mill Lane Greasby Wirral Merseyside CH49 3AR

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Curriculum Innovation

Thank you for your assistance and hospitality, and that of your staff, during my visit on 19-20 September 2007. At the end of the visit I fed back my conclusions and this letter confirms those findings.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Curriculum Innovation

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 are published on the Ofsted website at the end of each half-term.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Curriculum Innovation

The evidence used to inform the judgements made included: interviews with staff and pupils; scrutiny of relevant documentation; lesson observations; seeing the school at work.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Curriculum Innovation

The overall effectiveness of the curriculum was judged to be outstanding.

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Achievement and standards, and personal development

Students progress well during their time in school and leave with standards that are well above average. The school’s curriculum makes a very strong contribution to this attainment and to pupils’ personal development. Behaviour in lessons is excellent and pupils’ are enthusiastic about learning and about their school. The curriculum offers many opportunities for pupils to develop skills that underpin good learning. In particular, it enables them to develop excellent speaking and listening skills. Pupils are excellent at working and discussing in pairs and groups. This enables them to enjoy their learning more and to make greater progress. Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404040 F 020 7421 6855 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Teaching, learning and the curriculum

The school’s development of the curriculum over the past few years has produced a structure and approach that engages and interests pupils and meets their needs well. The curriculum is very well organised. Pupils are grouped by ability in some subjects and this helps teachers to target work closely to the needs of individuals. Very good use is also made of individual teachers’ strengths and specialist expertise, for example in modern foreign languages and art. As well as enriching the curriculum, this enables pupils to experience the teaching of a number of staff, something which they value and enjoy. The range of clubs, visits and other activities is particularly impressive. Pupils are very positive about these opportunities and they enjoy them immensely.

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Teaching, learning and the curriculum

The curriculum is planned in great detail and subject planning is very thorough. Recent developments have enabled a greater focus on the assessment of pupils’ progression in subject skills, as well as on the development of subject knowledge. Curriculum subjects are generally taught separately, although increasingly the school is adopting more flexible approaches to timetabling, for example by sometimes using more extended blocks of time. Leaders are also beginning to consider opportunities to integrate some aspects of the teaching of different subjects.

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Teaching, learning and the curriculum

The teaching and learning observed during the inspection was all at least good. Lessons are very well planned and structured.

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Leadership and management of the curriculum

The headteacher and his senior colleagues have a clear, considered vision for the curriculum. There has been a sensible and disciplined approach to development over the past few years. Decisions about curriculum change have been based on an accurate analysis of pupils’ needs, and development has been carefully balanced with the need to maintain high standards in national tests. The system by which the school reviews subjects and the work of year groups is very rigorous and enables the clear identification of strengths and areas for further development. Good communication is also a strong feature of the school’s leadership. Staff work very closely together and feel able to influence the development of the curriculum.

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Inclusion

Lessons observed during the inspection demonstrated effective inclusion of all learners. Pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities achieve well.

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Overall

 There is a clear vision and strategy for the development of the curriculum.  The curriculum helps children to become confident learners, with excellent attitudes to learning and to school.  Pupils develop excellent speaking and listening skills.  The quality of teaching and learning is high and is characterised by very thorough planning.  Subject provision is strong, particularly where use is made of teachers’ specialist expertise.

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Overall

 Look at ways to gradually develop greater links between the teaching of different curriculum subjects.

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Overall

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

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