Torriano Primary School

Torriano Junior School Inspection report

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100023 Unique Reference Number Camden Local Authority 323214 Inspection number 30 March 2009 Inspection date Keith Williams 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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Junior Type of school Community School category 7–11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 239 School (total) The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Luca Salice Chair Mrs Bavaani Nanthabalan Headteacher 12 December 2005 Date of previous school inspection Torriano Avenue School address Kentish Town London NW5 2SJ 020 7424 0202 Telephone number 020 7284 4367 Fax number

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7–11 Age group 30 March 2009 Inspection date 323214 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. 2 of 9 Inspection Report: Torriano Junior School, 30 March 2009

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by an Additional Inspector. The inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school. He investigated: how well current pupils are achieving and the extent to which Year 6 are on track to reach their targets; how well staff use ongoing assessment to promote learning; and the extent to which pupils understand their personal targets. Evidence was gathered from: the analysis of pupils' progress; scrutiny of their work; observation of lessons; parents' questionnaires; and discussions with the headteacher, staff, the chair of governors and pupils. 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, 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

Pupils at this average sized junior school come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, the largest groups being those of White British, Black African and other White heritage. The proportion learning English as an additional language is much higher than usual. A well above average proportion of pupils are eligible for free school meals. The percentage of pupils identified with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is higher than in most schools and this includes a well above average proportion who are in receipt of a statement of special educational need. In the main, pupils' needs relate to moderate learning and behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. The school has a number of national awards. The school hosts an after-school club that is managed by the local authority.

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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: Torriano Junior School, 30 March 2009

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Grade: 1

This outstanding school ensures that pupils make excellent progress in their all-round development. Key factors in its success are high-quality leadership and teaching and impressively positive attitudes and behaviour. The inspirational headteacher provides a very clear and ambitious vision for the school that focuses on enabling all pupils to reach their potential. Staff, governors and pupils share this drive to achieve excellence. All aspects of the school's work are evaluated thoroughly and areas for development are tackled determinedly, often using imaginative and inventive solutions. Staff hold pupils in the highest regard and do all they can to ensure that they can learn in a safe, stimulating and supportive environment. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive. One reflected the views of many in reporting, 'Fabulous leadership and committed staff make Torriano into a wonderful place for children to learn, grow and

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Grade: 1

understand...the richness of education and breadth of other activities make Torriano into a model school.' The school's innovative approach to planning the curriculum typifies the way that staff strive to provide interesting and exciting work. The approach is very much focused on promoting pupils' personal development, particularly their role as citizens of the future. Each year pupils consider a 'key question', for example, pupils in Year 3 explore, 'What makes me a caring and active citizen?' The result is a thought-provoking programme that promotes pupils' multicultural understanding, and links subjects together in a meaningful and exhilarating way. Consequently, pupils make excellent progress in their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. They expand not just their knowledge, skills and understanding, but also gain in confidence and self-esteem. They thrive, becoming very well motivated and independent learners who work

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Grade: 1

hard and are eager to please. Pupils enjoy school enormously and make the most of all that it provides. They appreciate the excellent range of activities that enrich their learning, in and out of lessons, and enjoy expressing their views (as do their parents) in the school's online forum. All pupils are taught Italian, reflecting the local area's heritage, and Years 5 and 6 learn French. Healthy lifestyles are promoted very successfully. Sport and music feature strongly and also provide opportunities for pupils to compete with others or perform to wider audiences. The global focus of the curriculum supports the school's aim to promote community cohesion very successfully, and pupils speak articulately about their understanding of 'local, national and international' issues. The exciting education offered helps the school promote good attendance. Pupils enjoy the rewards for attending regularly and a close check is kept on absences but,

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Grade: 1

despite the school's efforts, a few pupils do not attend regularly. The cross-curricular approach to planning is not at the expense of the core subjects. Literacy and numeracy, for example, are planned and taught exceptionally well, and this planning builds very successfully on the well-developed skills that pupils bring when they first join the school. As a result, pupils make excellent progress and standards are well above average. They are very well prepared for their future economic well-being. High expectations and a supportive environment are crucial to this success, and they are a potent mix. Teachers plan lessons well so that tasks are interesting, meaningful and tailored to pupils' individual needs. They set clear objectives for what pupils should learn and discuss 'success criteria' with them or, sometimes, ask pupils to decide for themselves how their success will be judged. Teachers question very

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Grade: 1

thoughtfully so that, for example, the more able pupils are challenged to extend their thinking. This precise questioning enables teachers to build up a picture of who is understanding the work and who needs extra help. Because they find the work interesting and supportive, pupils 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Torriano Junior School, 30 March 2009 join in discussions willingly. A consistent feature is that almost all pupils put up their hands to answer questions, safe in the knowledge that their contributions will be valued by teachers and any misconceptions will be handled sensitively. Teachers provide detailed written and verbal feedback for pupils and set them challenging targets for their learning, and older pupils set targets for themselves. As a result, pupils have a very clear idea of how they are doing and how they should improve. The school tracks pupils' progress very carefully, and accurately, and uses the results thoughtfully

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Grade: 1

to identify any pupils at risk of underachieving and to hold teachers to account. A wide range of well thought-out strategies is used to give pupils a boost when necessary. Teaching assistants contribute very well to this excellent provision, particularly in the support given to pupils who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities and to those at an early stage of learning English. In addition, very good use is made of outside agencies and organisations to provide a rich and varied programme for pupils identified as gifted or talented. The outcome is that pupils of all backgrounds and abilities achieve exceptionally well. Almost all, including those with moderate learning or behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, go on to reach the nationally expected levels at the end of Year 6 and, in 2008, provisional results show that the proportion reaching the higher Level 5 was significantly above that found nationally. Measures showing the value

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Grade: 1

added by the school were among the top 10% nationally in 2008. Potentially vulnerable pupils receive excellent support so that they, too, achieve very well. Staff take every step to secure pupils' health and safety. Risks are monitored closely and very robust steps are taken to check on the suitability of adults to work with children. Pupils report that they feel safe in school, partly because of good site security but mainly, they say, because staff 'are kind and look out' for them. The school has maintained its excellent effectiveness since it was last inspected. Despite this success, complacency is not tolerated. Rigorous self-evaluation, based on the close monitoring of teaching, learning and pupils' progress, and careful analysis of the impact of important elements such as the curriculum and the programme for community cohesion, is used to form challenging plans for improvement. As a result, the school continues to go from strength to

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Grade: 1

strength, pupils' progress has accelerated since the last inspection, standards are higher and teaching is better. This successful track record shows that the school is very well placed to continue to improve. In the words of another parent, 'I am proud to have my children attending such a diverse and inclusive school'.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Raise attendance levels among the few pupils who are persistently absent. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Torriano Junior School, 30 March 2009 .

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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: Torriano Junior School, 30 March 2009

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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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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? 1 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

1 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 1 How well learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make progress

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Achievement and standards

1 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: Torriano Junior School, 30 March 2009

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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 1 The extent to which 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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learners' needs?

How well do the curriculum and other activities meet the range of needs and interests of learners? 1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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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 1 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 1 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 1 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination eliminated 1 How well does the school contribute to community cohesion? 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: Torriano Junior School, 30 March 2009

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

20 April 2009 Dear Pupils Inspection of Torriano Junior School,London,NW5 2SJ Many thanks for being so friendly when I visited your school recently. A special thank you goes to those of you who met with me to share your views and opinions. You gave me lots of helpful information and I am writing to tell you what I found out. Many of you and your parents told me how pleased you are with your school. You are right to be very proud because it is excellent. There are many reasons why you are doing so well. Firstly, your headteacher, senior staff and governors lead the school extremely well. They know exactly what needs to be done to make sure the school continues to be excellent. Secondly, your teachers, teaching assistants and all the other adults who work in school do an excellent job. They make sure lessons are interesting and challenging, keep a close check on how well you are learning, give you the help you need and make sure that the school is a safe and clean place

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

to be. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you behave really well, think about others as well as yourselves and try your best in everything you do. I was very impressed with your work in lessons. Because you concentrate and work really hard, you are doing very well. You told me how much you appreciate the help you get from staff, particularly the way they encourage you. I could see that you enjoy playtimes just as much as your lessons and I was delighted to see how well you get on together. Your school is a very pleasant place to be! Even though your school is excellent, your headteacher, staff and governors are determined that it will get even better. Because you enjoy school very much, most of you come to school regularly. However, a few of you have too much time off. I have asked the staff to continue to work with your parents to try to improve this. I know that you will want to help - remember,

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

you can only learn well and achieve your best if you attend regularly. I am sure that you will all keep working hard and enjoying everything you do. I wish you good luck for the future. Yours faithfully Keith Williams Lead Inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Torriano Junior School, 30 March 2009

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