Setting

Mrs Barbara Dunn The Headteacher St Luke's CofE Primary School Fernhead Road London W9 3EJ

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

Thank you for the help which you and your staff gave when I inspected your school on 22 May 2008, for the time you gave to our phone discussions and for the information which you provided before and during my visit. Please pass my thanks on to the chair of governors, the local authority representative and the pupils who talked to me about the school.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

This letter will be posted on the Ofsted website. Please inform the Regional Inspection Service Provider of any factual inaccuracies within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

As a result of the inspection on 16 and 17 October 2007, the school was asked to raise standards and improve progress in English, mathematics and science, and to improve the quality of teaching. The school was also asked to improve behaviour through a more consistent application of school policies.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

Having considered all the evidence I am of the opinion that at this time the school is making satisfactory progress in addressing the issues for improvement and in raising achievement. After the inspection, the local authority (LA) provided a satisfactory statement of how it would support the school. This has been implemented well, and the level of support provided, working closely with the diocese, has been good. The LA has provided rigorous evaluation of the school's work, challenge to improve further, help from specialist staff, and funding. The headteacher's strong leadership is also making a significant impact on bringing about improvements.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

Pupils' progress is better because of improvements to teaching, and to behaviour. This process is accelerating because, after significant changes to staffing in the autumn term, the school now has a core of experienced senior staff with high levels of expertise. They are providing effective help to colleagues which has enabled them improve their practice. Lessons are monitored rigorously by senior managers, with good support from a variety of LA staff. Lessons seen during this visit confirm the Prospects Learning Services Ltd 132-138 High Street Bromley Kent BR1 1EZ T 08456 40 40 40 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 020 8313 7760 Direct F 020 8464 3393 views of the headteacher that teaching and learning have improved significantly since the last inspection. There are still inconsistencies, particularly in how well teachers ensure that all pupils are involved and interested throughout lessons. Some

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

teachers still spend a lot of time in ensuring that behaviour is of an acceptable standard. However, pupils who find conforming difficult have much less impact on their classmates' learning than at the time of the inspection, because their behaviour is managed better by teachers and teaching assistants.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

Achievement is better across the school, particularly in Years 2 and 6, although there are inconsistencies between year groups and subjects. A major factor in better progress is the better teaching. In addition, the consistent tracking of pupils' attainment enables the school to identify pupils who fall behind. A range of intervention strategies is used to help these pupils, and records show that these are effective in accelerating progress. The appointment of an assistant headteacher, with specialist skills in mathematics, complements well the existing literacy expertise of the deputy head, and their work is contributing well to improvements. The school still lacks a science specialist to help staff make similar improvements in this subject. Standards are rising, but only slowly. Despite the improved progress in the last few months, there is a legacy of low achievement over several years, and there is still

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

some way to go to make up this shortfall.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

Behaviour is improving. Not only are staff managing behaviour more consistently in class, but the school has been innovative in working with pupils and their parents to bring about improvements. A pupils' Behaviour Panel makes a significant contribution, for example. These pupils, in Years 5 and 6, work with their peers who are struggling to conform, agreeing targets with them and reviewing their progress. Work with older pupils on life skills from an outside consultant is also contributing to better behaviour. Pupils themselves are convinced that behaviour is improving. Behaviour observed during this visit was satisfactory, and was often good in lessons, a much better picture than at the last inspection. A major project to involve the whole school community in further improving behaviour, and hence achievement, is planned for the near future. The LA has provided funding to support this.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

Thank you again for your help during my visit. I hope that you have found it helpful in promoting improvement in your school.

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