Setting

Mrs Glynis Hyde Headteacher Waverley Primary School Maple Close Dumpling Hall Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 7QZ

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

Thank you for the help which you and your staff gave when I inspected your school on 30 April 2009, for the time you gave to our phone discussions and for the information which you provided before and during my visit. I also appreciated the time given by the chair of governors to talk with me about improvements since the previous inspection in April 2008. Please also extend my thanks to the local authority representative, the teachers and pupils who met with me.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

Since the previous inspection, there have been some changes to the leadership and management of the school. The assistant headteacher has been seconded to another school for the period of a year. The deputy headteacher has reduced her hours to become a part-time member of staff focussing purely on management duties. A middle manager has been promoted on a temporary basis to carry out additional leadership responsibilities. A new chair of the governing body has been appointed.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

As a result of the inspection in April 2008, the school was asked to:

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

 Raise standards for its most able pupils  Improve teaching by ensuring that work is always well matched to the needs of pupils  Evaluate its performance more rigorously to identify priorities for improvement. Nord Anglia Inspections Anglia House Carrs Road Cheadle Stockport SK8 2LA T 08456 40 40 40 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01614914191 Direct F 01614919677 andrew.johnson@ofsted.gov.uk Page 2 Having considered all the evidence I am of the opinion that at this time the school is making satisfactory progress in addressing the areas for improvement and in raising pupils’ achievement.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

Pupils’ skills, knowledge and personal attributes on entry to the school, vary from year-to-year, but are generally typical for their age. The 2008 test results showed that, overall, standards at the end of Key Stage 1 were broadly average. There was an improvement in pupils’ attainment in writing: the standards reached by girls were better than those of boys. At the end of Key Stage 2 attainment overall in English, mathematics and science was around the national average. However boys, and those pupils entitled to free school meals, performed less well than their peers.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

Pupils’ progress throughout the school continues to be an area for concern for some groups, including more able pupils. In 2008, contextual value added data indicated that some groups of pupils were not making the progress of which they are capable. The school can demonstrate that, since the last inspection, a combination of better assessment and more effective teaching has led to a larger proportion of children making better progress in the core subjects. The school has prioritised work to raise the standards of more able pupils and provided evidence of significant impact in this area. The school is aware that further improvements to assessment, target setting, and teaching are necessary and is being well supported by the local authority to develop these processes.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

The method used to monitor the quality of lessons has been improved. It includes observations by senior staff and the local authority. The inspector observed a range of teaching activities containing elements of good practice: for example, activities where work is differentiated to challenge and meet the needs of the full range of pupils. Occasionally, teachers spend too long talking to or questioning the whole group. Pupils are very attentive, well behaved, and very keen to learn. Marking is done frequently and there is some good feedback in exercise books. Most pupils know what level they are working at although this could be made more explicit in exercise books.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

The head teacher has an accurate view of the school’s strengths and areas for improvement. Appropriate action plans are in place to improve areas identified by the last inspection. Staff are working hard to develop the school’s place in the community and to support children and their families and team working has improved. Particularly effective work has been done to help parents develop their children’s literacy and numeracy skills. Governors are well informed and determined to move the school forward. They have become more involved in the self-evaluation and planning processes, and this has put them in a better position to support the leadership team and hold the school to account. The local authority has been able to provide more and better support in recent months and this is continuing to have a positive impact.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

I hope that you have found the visit helpful in promoting improvement in your school. Page 3 Yours sincerely

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