Hob Hill CE/Methodist (VC) Primary School

Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School Inspection report

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124291 Unique Reference Number Staffordshire Local Authority 328098 Inspection number 8–9 June 2009 Inspection dates Derek Watts 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 3–11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 186 School (total) 0 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 Steve Lynch Chair Ben Preston Headteacher 5 July 2006 Date of previous school inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous funded early education inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous childcare inspection Armitage Lane School address Brereton Rugeley WS15 1ED

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3–11 Age group 8–9 June 2009 Inspection dates 328098 Inspection number 01889 256145 Telephone number 01889 256145 Fax number

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3–11 Age group 8–9 June 2009 Inspection dates 328098 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. 3 of 12 Inspection Report: Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School, 8–9 June 2009

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two additional inspectors.

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Description of the school

Hob Hill is a smaller than average primary school. The vast majority of the pupils are from a White British background. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is just below average. These difficulties lie mainly in the areas of moderate learning, language, speech and communication. There is Early Years Foundation Stage provision for children in Nursery and Reception. The current headteacher was appointed in September 2007. A private company, in partnership with the school, offers before and after school provision. This provision was inspected separately.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 4 of 12 Inspection Report: Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School, 8–9 June 2009

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Grade: 2

Hob Hill is a good school that has made considerable improvements since the last inspection. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage get off to a good start. Across the school, pupils achieve well because of good teaching and a well-planned curriculum. Effective care, guidance and support and a very positive school atmosphere lead to good personal development and well-being for pupils. Good leadership and management have contributed significantly to the improved provision and the good outcomes for pupils. The headteacher provides strong leadership and has gained the confidence and respect of pupils, parents and staff. Teamwork among the staff is strong and there is a clear commitment to improvement. The monitoring and evaluation of the school's performance is much sharper than at the time of the last inspection and is now good. Senior leaders use the findings of self-evaluation well to plan and bring about needed improvements.

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Grade: 2

Effective systems to assess and track pupils' attainment have been established. Improvements to assessment, teaching and the curriculum have had a positive impact on pupils' achievement. Governors are well informed about the school's performance. They offer constructive challenge as well as providing good support. The school demonstrates a good capacity to improve further. Parents hold positive views about the school and give it their support. Most are very pleased with the care and education provided for their children. The positive ethos, pupils' progress, additional activities and approachability receive particular praise. Typical parental comments from the questionnaires were, 'Great atmosphere and lots of support', 'Wide range of after-school clubs' and 'The headteacher and staff are very approachable'. Parents are also pleased with the changes that the headteacher has brought about. Pupils' personal development and well-being have been maintained and built upon since the

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Grade: 2

last inspection. Pupils thoroughly enjoy school and this is reflected by their keen participation in activities. Attendance is satisfactory. Pupils are polite and relate well to others. Behaviour is good in lessons and around the school. Pupils adopt healthy lifestyles and safe practices. They make positive contributions to the school and wider community. Pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education and for the future. Standards by the end of Year 6 are above average in English and mathematics and average in science. Pupils make good progress in English and mathematics and satisfactory progress in science. Positive steps are being taken to improve pupils' performance in science but it is too soon for these to have had a full impact. Although practical investigative work is being increased, there are still not enough opportunities for pupils in this area. Good teaching and an interesting

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Grade: 2

curriculum contribute to pupils' good progress. Teachers establish good relationships with their pupils and manage them well. Teachers' demonstrations, instructions and questioning promote learning effectively. Assessment is usually used well to match tasks to pupils' abilities and needs. Pupils are challenged well and they make good gains in their learning. Occasionally, lessons lack pace and some tasks are too teacher-directed so pupils have insufficient opportunities to work independently. Pupils are set clear learning targets in literacy and numeracy so they know how to improve. This good practice is less well developed in science. A good range of additional activities enhances pupils' learning and enjoyment. 5 of 12 Inspection Report: Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School, 8–9 June 2009

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Grade: 2

Children start school with the knowledge and skills typically expected, except in communication and language, where a significant number enter with lower skills. The Early Years Foundation Stage is well led and managed and there have been good improvements to this area since the last inspection. Good teaching, careful attention to welfare and an interesting range of learning activities enable children to make good progress in all areas of learning. They make good gains in their personal and social development because of the good relationships established between adults and children. Children thoroughly enjoy their learning and the activities provided. Speaking and listening are successfully incorporated into all activities. There are effective strategies to develop early reading skills. Children's reading skills are further supported by the productive partnership with parents. Children make good gains in physical development because

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Grade: 2

of the outdoor activities provided. The increased focus on practical activities is having a positive impact on the progress of boys. Teachers and assistants provide an effective blend of adult-led activities and those that allow children to explore, be creative and work independently. Staff in the Early Years Foundation Stage are continuing to strengthen assessment procedures, including providing a more comprehensive assessment of children's skills on entry. By the end of Reception, standards are just above average.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Raise achievement and standards in science by extending investigative work and establishing individual learning targets for pupils in science. ■ Ensure that all lessons proceeded at a good pace and provide opportunities for pupils to work independently.

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Grade: 2

Pupils are achieving well as they progress through the school. Standards by the end of Year 2 fluctuate because of variations in the attainment of relatively small year groups. Standards in the current Year 2 are broadly average in reading, writing and mathematics. National test results and pupils' work indicate that standards by the end of Year 6 are above average in English and mathematics and average in science. Pupils' progress in English and mathematics has improved from satisfactory to good because of the action taken by the school. Pupils who need additional help with their learning make good progress because of the well-targeted support from teaching assistants.

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Grade: 2

Pupils are enthusiastic and have positive attitudes to learning. They are courteous, friendly and helpful to others. As the pupils reported, 'Everyone is friendly here and new people fit in straight away'. Attendance is improving and levels are now closer to average. Pupils adopt healthy lifestyles and participate in a range of physical exercise. They show a good knowledge and understanding of healthy diets. Those on the school council represent their fellow pupils well and have contributed to improvements to the outdoor facilities. Members also played a valuable part in the appointment of a new deputy headteacher for September. Pupils make a good contribution to the wider community by raising funds for national and global charities. 6 of 12 Inspection Report: Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School, 8–9 June 2009 At Hob Hill, pupils are well prepared for the future because they are making good progress in

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Grade: 2

literacy and numeracy. In addition to this, their personal and social skills are well developed.

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Grade: 2

One typical comment from a parent was, 'Pleased with the teaching at Hob Hill' and the pupils said, 'Lessons are fun, we learn new things'. Teachers share the purpose of the lesson with the class so pupils know what they are expected to learn. They are attentive and respond positively to teachers' clear and informative demonstrations and explanations. Questioning is used well to check pupils' knowledge and understanding of new work. Teachers usually use assessment information well to tailor activities and tasks to pupils' needs. As a result, pupils are challenged, their interest is sustained and they make good progress. At times, the pace of learning slows because teachers' introductions are too long and pupils are keen to tackle the main task. Opportunities for pupils to plan and work independently are occasionally missed because the activities are too adult directed. Teaching assistants are well deployed and make a valuable

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Grade: 2

contribution to pupils' learning, particularly for those who need additional support with literacy and numeracy.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum promotes good progress for pupils and contributes well to their personal development and well-being. Provision for English and mathematics is effective and this has a positive impact on achievement and standards in these subjects. The school is taking positive measures to improve provision and raise pupils' performance in science. The planning and arrangements for science are improving. There is already greater emphasis on investigative work, although the school recognises that there is still more to do. A wide range of additional activities are provided and these are much appreciated by pupils and their parents. Popular clubs include art and craft, choir, cricket, dance, football, information and communication technology (ICT) and recorders. A successful residential visit for pupils in Years 6 provides exciting outdoor opportunities for pupils to learn new skills and to work together in teams.

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Grade: 2

Health and safety education is promoted effectively across the curriculum.

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Grade: 2

Good pastoral care and the school's very positive ethos underpin pupils' good personal development and well-being. Good partnerships have been established with parents, the church and outside agencies. Procedures to ensure that pupils are protected and safe are effective. Pupils feel well cared for and are confident that there is always an adult to whom they can turn if they are upset or have a problem. As a parent wrote, 'My children are well cared for and feel safe'. Effective strategies have been devised to monitor and promote pupils' attendance, which is now rising. Good behaviour is achieved through clear expectations from staff and by the good relationships established. Pupils with specific needs receive good support and have full access to the curriculum and activities. Academic guidance for pupils is good and much improved since the last inspection. Pupils are set specific learning targets in literacy and numeracy and

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Grade: 2

so they know what they need to do to improve. As a parent commented, 'We are kept up to 7 of 12 Inspection Report: Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School, 8–9 June 2009 date with targets set by teachers'. However, this good target setting is not so well established in science.

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Grade: 2

The headteacher provides clear educational direction and is sharply focused on improving provision and raising achievement. He has fostered good teamwork and a commitment to improvement among the staff. Leadership roles and responsibilities have been distributed more widely amongst the staff, developing the school's capacity to improve. Self-evaluation is good and much improved since the last inspection. Leaders and managers have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and take effective action to bring about improvements. There have been good improvements to assessment, teaching and the curriculum. More rigorous assessment and tracking systems mean that all staff have an accurate view of how well each pupil is doing. The changes have had a positive impact on pupils' progress, particularly in English and mathematics. In the drive for improvement, the school has made good use of local authority

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Grade: 2

advisers and consultants. Leaders are aware that there is more to do to raise achievement in science. Community cohesion is promoted well. The school has a good understanding of the community it serves. There are strong partnerships with the Anglican and Methodist church communities. The school has worked hard on extending its partnership with parents and this is having a positive effect on parents' support for their children's learning. Parents help with the school's reading programme, and the child/parent ICT club is an interesting initiative. Different cultures and religions are promoted well through the school's curriculum. The before- and after-school provision is much appreciated by working parents. The governors are actively involved in the work of the school. They offer constructive challenge and provide strong support. They are rightly pleased with the school's improvements. 8 of 12 Inspection Report: Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School, 8–9 June 2009

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Grade: 2

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 9 of 12 Inspection Report: Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School, 8–9 June 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? 2 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. 10 of 12 Inspection Report: Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School, 8–9 June 2009

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learners?

2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 The extent to which learners enjoy their education 3 The attendance of learners 2 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? 2 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? 11 of 12 Inspection Report: Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School, 8–9 June 2009

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

10 June 2009 Dear Pupils Inspection of Hob Hill C of E/Methodist Primary School, Rugeley, WS15 1ED. Thank you so much for welcoming us into your school and showing us your work. We enjoyed our visit and would like to tell you what we found. Yours is a good school. There have been good improvements since the last inspection. These are the main strengths of the school.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You really enjoy school and the activities provided.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Children in Nursery and Reception get off to a good start.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You are making good progress because of the good teaching.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your school is a friendly and pleasant place to learn in.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Behaviour is good in lessons and around the school and you get on well with others.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ A good range of learning activities is provided, including clubs and visits.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You have a good understanding of how to keep healthy and fit.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Staff take good care of you and provide good support.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The school is well led by your headteacher and he receives good support from other staff.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ The school has good partnerships with parents and the community.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

There are two areas the school has been asked to look at and make further improvements.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Some of you could make better progress in science by having more practical investigative work and by having clear targets to guide your learning. ■ At times, teachers could ensure that the lesson moves on at a faster pace and give you more chances to work independently. Finally, thank you once again for all your help. We wish you all the very best for the future. Yours faithfully Derek Watts Lead inspector 12 of 12 Inspection Report: Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School, 8–9 June 2009

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