St Peter's Church of England Primary School

St Peter's Church of England Primary School Inspection report

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118614 Unique Reference Number Kent Local Authority 326857 Inspection number 24 March 2009 Inspection date Gavin Jones Reporting inspector

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The registered childcare, managed by the governing body, was inspected under section 49 of the Childcare Act 2006.

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Primary Type of school Voluntary controlled School category 4–11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 141 School (total) 20 Government funded early education provision for children aged 3 to the end of the EYFS 0 Childcare provision for children aged 0 to 3 years The governing body Appropriate authority Norbert Singer Chair Lynn Goreham Headteacher 1 June 2006 Date of previous school inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous funded early education inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous childcare inspection Windmill Street School address Tunbridge Wells TN2 4UU 01892 525727 Telephone number 01892 618677 Fax number

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4–11 Age group 24 March 2009 Inspection date 326857 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: St Peter's Church of England Primary School, 24 March 2009

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two Additional Inspectors who evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school. They particularly investigated the progress pupils made across the school and how leadership challenges teachers to improve their effectiveness even further. Parts of some lessons were observed and inspectors looked at pupils' work. Inspectors met with pupils of all ages, some staff and the chair of governors. School information, such as evidence of pupils' progress and the school improvement plan, were scrutinised along with examples of pupils' completed work. Other aspects of the school's work were not investigated in detail, but inspectors found no evidence to suggest that the school's own assessments, as given in its self-evaluation, were not justified. These have been included, where appropriate, in the report.

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Description of the school

This primary school is much smaller than average and is situated close to the centre of the town. The school is split between three adjacent sites comprising the main school, the hall and the playground. The proportion of free school meals is below average, but rising, whilst the percentage of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is also below average. The school is oversubscribed and almost all pupils are from White British heritage. The Early Years Foundation Stage is represented by the Reception class.

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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: St Peter's Church of England Primary School, 24 March 2009

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Grade: 2

St Peter's is a good school. It has some outstanding features, principle amongst which are pupils' excellent personal development and the high quality care, support and guidance given by the school. These strengths contribute strongly to pupils' great enjoyment of school and their highly positive attitudes to learning. As a result, it is not surprising that their attendance is good and their behaviour exemplary. Parents commented 'it's a happy place' and described it as 'a lovely school'. Another said 'My child runs to school every morning and has done since the first day.' Pupils talk sensibly about healthy lifestyles and very clearly understand the implications of diet and exercise for their health. They certainly know about keeping safe and have a 'Worry box' in school and access to a trained counsellor should they feel they need more support. They contribute well to their school and local community. Parents say, 'The school has a great sense

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Grade: 2

of community.' Pupils have an exceptional understanding of world issues such as caring for the planet, as seen in several excellent displays around the school. They have also completed very successful work in understanding the lives of children in the wider world, especially in India and St Lucia. However, their understanding of the lives of children in other parts of the UK where there are large groups of people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds is not as well developed. Teaching is good throughout the school, with most lessons characterised by good pace, good challenge for the different ages and abilities in the classes and an overall high expectation for what pupils can do and how they behave. This results in pupils, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and the small number of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds, making consistently good progress. The headteacher, through her monitoring, challenges

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Grade: 2

teachers to continually improve their practice. By the time pupils move to secondary school standards are usually above average. Over the past three years, the school has been able to sustain a trend of above and well above average standards in English and mathematics. In order to achieve this, the school has put in place a number of initiatives to support better progress in writing. There is, however, still some way to go before writing is consistently good. Currently, subjects such as science, for example, do not give enough regular opportunities for pupils to use their skills by writing in sentences and paragraphs. Worksheets often limit these opportunities. The school has obtained several awards for its lively and well planned curriculum, which is very well enriched by a variety of club activities helping to improve a range of skills and social interaction. It is also enriched by very good opportunities for pupils to experience first-hand

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Grade: 2

learning through a visit from the travelling Science Museum. Very recently, pupils had the opportunity to extend their very good enterprise skills, by designing, marketing and selling products related to Easter, with the winning class getting to keep the profit it made to spend on a treat. The exemplary pastoral care and the ethos of the school are both significant strengths in ensuring that pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. Child protection and safeguarding are fully in place, whilst rigorous assessment and tracking ensure that the school can spot any underachievement quickly. Targets are set for pupils and the marking of work helps them fully understand their next steps in learning. They themselves are active in commenting on their own learning, from 'thumbs up' for understanding for the little 4 of 9 Inspection Report: St Peter's Church of England Primary School, 24 March 2009

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Grade: 2

ones, to drawing smiley faces and making comments about how well they think they have performed as they get older. The headteacher has played a significant part in improvements made since the last inspection. She has a clear picture of the school's strengths and weaknesses and where the school needs to go next. This is articulated clearly to the small and collegiate staff. She is very ably supported by senior leaders. The school has good links with other schools locally, taking part in many joint ventures. In spite of the restrictions of the site, the school does not let this inhibit the pace of learning in any way. Parents are appreciative of this. Governors fulfil their roles well and are able to challenge the school as they themselves are gathering information from their own visits. Given the good progress made since the last inspection and the good teamwork in the school, it has good capacity to improve further.

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Grade: 2

Well considered induction procedures help children get off to a good start in the Reception class. As a result children enjoy coming to school, where they register themselves on the interactive whiteboard either on a picture of a lunch box or plate, depending on their lunch choice. Careful assessment on entry, together with good links with pre-school groups, inform the school that children arrive with standards and aptitudes broadly in line with those expected for children of this age. For some children communication and language skills are less well formed. The school does not consistently use the established electronic tracking systems to chart their early progress. The atmosphere in the Reception class is calm and purposeful with independence encouraged through choices made by children in the activities they pursue. This is balanced well against other activities chosen by adults. A sustained emphasis on teaching

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Grade: 2

letters and sounds and encouragement of speaking and listening enhance children's skills. Their personal development and welfare are excellent, ensured by good leadership and management; they feel safe, share equipment and co-operate with each other. In spite of restrictions posed by the building, they have good learning experiences both indoors and out. The space is used very well. When children move into Year 1, they have a firm grasp of letters and sounds, are confident learners and can make choices related to their learning. They reach above average standards in many areas of learning by the time they leave the Reception class.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Persist in building on practices to improve writing and ensure that literacy skills are used more frequently in subjects other than English. ■ Ensure that the school raises pupils' awareness of life in multicultural Britain. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: St Peter's Church of England Primary School, 24 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: St Peter's Church of England Primary School, 24 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? 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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EYFS?

2 How well do children in the EYFS achieve? How good are the overall personal development and well-being of the children in the EYFS? 2 How effectively are children in the EYFS helped to learn and develop? 1 How effectively is the welfare of children in the EYFS promoted? 2 How effectively is provision in the EYFS led and managed?

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Achievement and standards

2 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 2 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: St Peter's Church of England Primary School, 24 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 2 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 2 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 2 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination eliminated 2 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: St Peter's Church of England Primary School, 24 March 2009

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

25 March 2009 Dear Pupils Inspection of St Peter's C of E Primary School, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4UU Thank you for helping us when we visited your school the other day. Although we were not with you for very long, you helped by sharing your views with us and showing us how proud you are of your school. You told us that you thoroughly enjoy coming to school. You behave very well in class and show very good attitudes to your work. This may be because your teachers make your lessons interesting and teach you well. You do lots of interesting things and your school work is brightened up by lots of extra activities. It is a pity we missed all the exciting things you made in your Easter Eggstravaganza. Some of the projects you made and sold looked very interesting. The standards of work across the school are above average. You make good progress in your work. We still think you may be able to do even better in your writing, if you get more

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

opportunities to use your writing skills in science for example. The excellent care and support you get from adults in the school make you feel very safe and secure and teachers help you make progress by setting targets for you and telling you, by their marking of your work, how to get even better. We have asked the school if it will help you gain a better understanding of what life is like for pupils in other parts of the country where there are many more children from other cultures living together. Your school is well led by your headteacher, who is always looking for ways to improve the school. She is helped a great deal by the rest of the staff who work together well as a team. Your school governors are also important members of the team. You can all help by continuing to attend well and trying your best at all of your writing. Thank you again for such an interesting day at your school. Yours sincerely

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Gavin Jones Lead inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: St Peter's Church of England Primary School, 24 March 2009

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