Setting

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Mr R Irving Headteacher Droxford Junior School Union Lane Droxford SO32 3QR

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communication technology (ICT)

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of your staff, during my visit on 13 November 2009 to look at work in ICT.

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communication technology (ICT)

As outlined in my initial letter, as well as looking at key areas of the subject, the visit had a particular focus on the use of ICT to support learning across the school.

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communication technology (ICT)

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our national evaluation and reporting. Published reports are likely to list the names of the contributing institutions but individual institutions will not be identified in the main text. All feedback letters will be published on the Ofsted website at the end of each half term.

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communication technology (ICT)

The evidence used to inform the judgements included: interviews with staff and pupils; scrutiny of relevant documentation; analysis of pupils’ work; observation of two lessons, including one joint observation with you; and a tour of the school given by two Year 6 pupils.

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communication technology (ICT)

The overall effectiveness of ICT is outstanding.

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Achievement in ICT

 Pupils enter Year 3 with ICT skills generally above national expectations. By the end of Year 6, they make excellent progress and they leave the school well above national expectations.  Those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and gifted and talented pupils, make the same outstanding progress as their peers.  Pupils make excellent gains in their learning. In lessons, they are very eager to do well and constantly support each other to overcome difficulties and tackle new challenges.  The behaviour of pupils is outstanding. They respect the equipment and use it carefully. The ‘keys for success’ of the school: respect, cooperation, confidence, organisation, resilience and persistence, are an integral part of pupils’ use and knowledge of ICT.  Pupils have an excellent knowledge and understanding of how to stay safe when they are using new technologies. They value the fact that the school’s virtual learning environment is safe and secure.

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Quality of teaching of ICT

The quality of teaching in ICT is outstanding.

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Quality of teaching of ICT

 Outstanding teaching results in pupils making outstanding progress in lessons and over time.  The subject knowledge of teachers is excellent. They use questions very effectively to develop pupils’ understanding of the task or skills being learnt.  Planning is very thorough and clear links are made between ICT and other curriculum subjects. Well-informed teaching assistants and support staff provide excellent support for pupils.  The behaviour and interest of pupils are outstanding.  Regular and systematic assessments, to inform planning, are made against the skills pupils demonstrate. Pupils are fully involved in self-assessments of their work and, by Year 6, have a good awareness of the levels that they are achieving and what they need to do to move up a level.

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Quality of the curriculum in ICT

The quality of the curriculum in ICT is outstanding.

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Quality of the curriculum in ICT

 The curriculum provided is comprehensive and enables all pupils to have equal access to all aspects of the National Curriculum for ICT. Pupils have regular opportunities to use spreadsheets, sensors, databases and data- loggers in a range of subjects.  The pupils enjoy all aspects of their work and this contributes to their learning in many subjects. They particularly enjoy being given the opportunity to use ICT creatively.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management in ICT

The effectiveness of leadership and management in ICT is outstanding.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management in ICT

 The leadership and management of ICT have had a significant impact on the development of the subject.  The ICT development plan, along with the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) self-review, is clearly focused on raising standards and achievement.  Governors, staff, pupils and parents are all involved in the development of the subject.  Governors are very supportive of the development of ICT provision.  ICT makes an excellent contribution to community cohesion through, for example, links to local business, other schools, parents and a school in Ethiopia.  The family learning group gives families the opportunity to use ICT in school and parents the opportunity to develop their own ICT skills.  Senior managers and governors constantly strive to obtain value for money.

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The use of ICT across the curriculum

The use of ICT across the curriculum is outstanding.

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The use of ICT across the curriculum

 The impact of ICT on standards in other subjects is outstanding. This impact is recognised by pupils who see ICT as an integral part of the curriculum.  Many well-planned examples of ICT supporting a wide range of curriculum subjects were observed.  The use of ICT in the wider-world is understood very well by pupils through, for example, visits to local businesses, service industries, and visitors to the school.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

 continuing to evolve the already outstanding curriculum in the light of ever-changing ICT developments.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop ICT in the school.

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Areas for improvement, which we discussed, include:

As I explained in my previous letter, a copy of this letter will be sent to your local authority and will be published on the Ofsted website. It will also be available to the team for your next institutional inspection.

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