Setting

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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Mr S Graver Headteacher The Saxilby CE Primary School Highfield Road Saxilby Lincoln LN1 2QJ

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Physical Education

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation, and that of your staff, during my visit on 06 February 2008 to look at work in physical education (PE).

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Physical Education

As outlined in my initial letter, as well as looking at key areas of the subject, the visit had a particular focus on assessing the PE contribution to the outcomes of Every Child Matters, particularly being healthy.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Physical Education

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.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Physical Education

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

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – Physical Education

The overall effectiveness of physical education was judged to be good.

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Achievement and standards

Pupils make good progress in Reception and by the time they enter Year 1, almost all are at or above the expected level in their physical development.

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Achievement and standards

 Progress continues to be at least satisfactory in Key Stages 1 and 2 but the school does not keep records of pupils’ attainment to demonstrate this. The school judges standards to be at or above expected levels in Years 2 and 6, although it has recognised that pupils’ games skills require strengthening in Key Stage 1. Standards in swimming are above average with all pupils in Year 6 leaving the school in 2007 able to swim 25 metres or more.  Pupils’ participation in PE and sport is enhancing their personal development and well-being. In lessons, pupils have positive attitudes and take part enthusiastically. Those interviewed knew why it is important to take exercise in order to keep fit and healthy. They could talk about the reasons why they warm up and what happens to their bodies when they are active. They also appreciate that there are other contributors to adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as eating a balanced diet and drinking

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Achievement and standards

water frequently. The subject leader is currently inviting applications from older pupils who wish to take more responsibility and be trained to lead playground activities at lunchtime.

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Quality of teaching and learning of PE

Teaching and learning observed during the inspection was good overall.

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Quality of teaching and learning of PE

 Teachers organise pupils well and plan lessons with clear learning objectives and success criteria. Teachers’ and pupils’ demonstrations were used effectively to illustrate expected outcomes. In one lesson, good support from a teaching assistant enabled all pupils to participate fully. In the lesson for the Reception class, children were challenged well and asked to extend their movements, but were also given regular reminders about working safely.  Teachers use questioning and their observations well to assess pupils’ learning. In the lessons observed, pupils were encouraged to watch and comment on each others’ performances, although this is recognised as an aspect requiring further development in some classes. Currently, information and communication technology (ICT) is not used regularly to support teaching and learning, including assessment. Teachers write end of year reports on pupils’ progress. The most detailed and informative

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Quality of teaching and learning of PE

reports are written for children in the Reception classes. Apart from the Foundation Stage profile, teachers are not undertaking any formal assessments or recording of pupils’ progress and achievements in PE.

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Quality of the curriculum

 It includes all areas of learning and most pupils receive two hours of timetabled PE each week. Regular swimming and outdoor and adventurous activities, including orienteering, are positive features for Key Stage 2 pupils. Teachers plan their lessons from core schemes of work in dance, gymnastics and games. Accommodation is good and equipment and resources are well organised and plentiful. PE and sport receive a high profile in displays around the school and in assemblies. There is a suitable outdoor play space for Reception children which supplements the opportunities they have in lessons. The subject leader plans to introduce daily ‘activate’ sessions for all pupils and playground zones to facilitate more structured play activities at lunchtimes.  Pupils in Year 6 enjoy a very good residential visit which enables them to take part in challenging outdoor activities such as canoeing, climbing and abseiling. A good range of sports clubs and team competitions is organised

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Quality of the curriculum

for mostly older pupils, although more events are planned this year for pupils in Years 3 and 4 to increase overall participation rates. Involvement in the local sports partnership has helped to improve provision by deploying sports coaches to introduce different activities and by enabling pupils to take part in several tournaments and festivals.

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Leadership and management of PE

Leadership and management are currently satisfactory, but, with a new subject leader in post from January, the capacity to improve further is good.

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Leadership and management of PE

 Curriculum improvements were introduced by the former subject leader and involvement in the sports partnership was used well to organise training for staff, to enhance provision through the deployment of sports coaches and to acquire a wide range of new equipment. Some lesson observations were undertaken in Key Stage 1 to monitor and then support the teaching of games. Reports on provision and developments in PE are written for the governing body but do not include information on the standards reached by pupils.  The school acknowledges that greater emphasis is now required on monitoring and evaluation, through more regular observations of lessons and through tracking pupils’ progress and achievement. A new subject action plan identifies priorities for improvement which include a check on the suitability of long term planning and reviewing monitoring arrangements. The subject leader has some good ideas for improving

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Leadership and management of PE

assessment by compiling a video footage portfolio to assist teachers with their judgements.

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Matters, particularly being healthy

 Strong emphasis is placed on pupils being fit and healthy. The school has achieved the Activemark and regular sporting assemblies maintain a high profile for adopting positive attitudes and celebrating achievement in PE and sport. As well as the full range of curriculum activities, specific events are organised to increase pupils’ physical involvement. A bike-wise training programme for Year 6 pupils combines the benefits of exercise with acquiring the knowledge and skills of safe cycling. ‘Huff and puff’ resources have been purchased for pupils to use during lunchtime play and several sports clubs, including cross country running, give pupils the chance to engage in physical activity outside of PE lessons. A positive emphasis on healthy eating, a ‘healthy habits’ programme and learning about physical and emotional wellbeing in science and personal social and health education contribute well to pupils’ all-round development.

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Inclusion

 All pupils are included in PE lessons and teaching assistants are deployed to support the engagement of specific pupils. Equal opportunities are promoted well and special consideration and dedicated support is provided for any pupils who may have acute additional needs so that they can be included in events such as the Year 6 residential visit. Pupils who are talented at sport are identified and provided with additional challenges in local community sports clubs.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

 establishing a workable system of assessing and recording pupils’ attainment and achievements in PE  making more effective use of ICT to support teaching and learning, including assessment  strengthening subject leadership through more regular monitoring of teaching and learning and through evaluating the progress made by pupils.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, included:

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop physical education in the school.

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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.

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