OFSTED Parents Meeting December 2013

1. OFSTED Parents Meeting December 2013

2. Vision for the School • Every child is the best they can be. • Create an exciting, engaging curriculum. • Develop effective and reflective teaching and learning. • Create a safe, rich learning environment. • Develop and enhance leadership capacity and impact. • Build mutually beneficial partnerships.

3. OFSTEDs Judgements • OFSTED judgements on achievement are over time – the last 3 years. • OFSTED judgements on teaching are on the impact of teaching on achievement over time – the last 3 years • They are not just a snapshot of where the school is now (which is different to previous inspections) • We will demonstrate to you that the report reflects where the school was and tells you where the school is now • I will look at where the school is now. • We will look at our plans for the future to make the school even better.

4. So? • Why was the school judged to require improvement? • What are the strengths of the school? • What is achievement like in the school now? • What is teaching like in the school now? • What does OFSTED say about leadership and management? (And why is this so important) • What does OFSTED say about behaviour and safety?

5. Why was the school judged to require improvement? • Although achievement is improving rapidly in all subjects, over time it has not been good. Attainment in both Key Stages 1 and 2 has historically not risen quickly enough, especially in mathematics. • Although pupils entitled to support from additional funding, disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs are now making good progress, their attainment is still below that of other pupils. • Teaching has been inconsistent in quality, which affected the rates of progress pupils made within lessons. Teaching is improving, but not enough is outstanding. • Teachers do not always make full use of the other adults who support learning in lessons in developing pupils’ progress. • Pupils are not provided with enough opportunities to write longer pieces of work in all subjects.

6. What are the strengths of the school? • The new headteacher and leadership team have produced a strong and clear drive for improvement. This has resulted in a marked rise in standards and rapidly improving rates of progress for all groups of pupils. • Leaders have set challenging targets for both the school and teachers, which are bringing about rapid improvements in all areas. • Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. • Behaviour is good and pupils are both polite and courteous to each other and adults. They have a positive attitude to learning and this is helping to drive up standards. • Pupils feel safe and have a good understanding of how to stay safe and healthy, both in and out of school. • The governing body knows the school well and effectively both supports and challenges the leadership team.

7. What is achievement like in the school now? Quotes from the report • “ All pupils are making good and for some better progress” • “Achievement is improving rapidly in all subjects but over time it has not been good” • “ A marked rise in standards and rapidly improving rates of progress for all groups of pupils” • “Leaders have set challenging targets ….. which are bringing about rapid improvements in all areas” • “Present Year 6 are on track to exceed national expectations” • “Attainment in mathematics has improved rapidly in the last few months” • “The most able pupils are currently making much better progress across the school”

10. What is teaching like in the school now? • Quotes from the report • “The teaching seen during the inspection was good, with some that was outstanding” • “The Local Authority confirms ….currently teaching is good” • “Consistency across the whole school” • “Teaching is improving but not enough is outstanding” – meaning enough is good! • “Reading is taught well across the whole school and pupils show a clear enjoyment of books” • “Since the appointment of the new headteacher and his leadership team the quality of teaching has seen marked improvements” • “The teaching of mathematics has been improved considerably over recent months and is now more practically based” • “Pupils in receipt of additional funding, disabled pupils and those with special educational needs are taught well in highly focussed lessons”

11. What is teaching like in the school now? During the inspection 14 lessons were observed. All 14 were judged as good or better by the inspectors 6 were judged to have outstanding elements with 2 outstanding overall In the last internal lesson observation carried out in school for each teacher now teaching at the school (many carried out with an officer from the Local Authority) All 10 were good or better. The areas for development are really things needed to improve teaching to outstanding rather than good.

12. What does OFSTED say about leadership? • Leadership and management are good because, in a relatively short time, they have brought about rapid changes and improvements to the school. • Since his appointment, the headteacher has developed a strong vision and a strong and clear drive for improvement. This has resulted in a marked rise in standards and rapidly improving rates of progress for all groups of pupils. • Leaders have set challenging targets for both the school and teachers, which are bringing about rapid improvements in all areas. • The headteacher and senior leadership team have worked hard to eliminate any teaching that does not come up to standard and make sure that all teaching is now good. • The school works effectively with parents and they are positive about the school and the service it provides. • Governors monitor the school effectively and provide robust challenge and support to the leadership of the school.

13. (And why is this so important) • The school leaders have delivered the improvements over the last 4 terms which have accelerated further over the last 2 terms. • The school leaders will ensure the improvements continue to be delivered • Governors monitor these improvements and challenge school leaders So its really important that we are effective! Good leadership will raise achievement and the quality of teaching further – it has already done so and OFSTED have recognised this very clearly in the report.

14. What does OFSTED say about behaviour and safety? • Behaviour in lessons and around the school generally is good. Pupils say they feel safe and that any issues which do arise are dealt with quickly and effectively. • Pupils state that they can talk to teachers if there are any problems and they feel that teachers keep them safe. • Pupils understand the various forms of bullying, including cyber bullying, but insist there is no bullying in school. • During discussions with pupils, and in lessons, they clearly showed they enjoyed their learning and that this has changed since the new leadership team was created. • Pupils stated lessons are more enjoyable as they are practical, fun and more interesting. • Pupils demonstrate their enjoyment of attending school in their high rates of attendance, which have risen considerably.

15. What does the school need to do to improve (even) further? 1 Raise the amount of good and outstanding teaching by making sure that: a) all teachers maintain a brisk pace of learning so there are good and better rates of progress in lessons b) teachers make full use of the other adults who support learning in their classrooms to help pupils progress further in their learning c) teachers adapt activities as their lesson progresses, when necessary, to make sure that all pupils understand the work and can achieve at the highest possible levels. 2 Raise attainment and achievement further by making sure that: a) all teachers improve pupils’ progress and attainment in writing through providing more opportunities for pupils to write longer pieces of work in different subjects b) effective strategies are employed to raise the attainment of pupils entitled to the additional pupil premium funding, disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs.

16. School Improvement Plan Priorities 2013/14 Priority 1 Develop capacity and impact of leaders at all levels Priority 2 Improving the quality of teaching and learning to consistently good and beyond Priority 3 Raise Attainment in Maths Priority 4 Implement effective systems of assessment and ensure data is used to impact on pupil progress Priority 5: Inspiring Writing for Progression Priority 6 Development of a New Curriculum (Phase 1 – Non Core) Priority 7 Prioritising the use of pupil premium to accelerate pupil progress

17. Vision for the School • Every child is the best they can be. • Create an exciting, engaging curriculum. • Develop effective and reflective teaching and learning. • Create a safe, rich learning environment. • Develop and enhance leadership capacity and impact. • Build mutually beneficial partnerships.

18. In Conclusion • There is a real contrast between what inspectors felt had happened in the past (leading to their judgements over time) and what they saw happening now. • I am very proud of this team of staff and governors for the changes they have achieved in the school. (and the children for how hard they are working) • I look forward to the challenges ahead with an excellent team to help deliver the best education possible for the children of Marden. • We know the areas for development. They are exactly those priorities we are already working on and shared with the inspectors.

19. Any Questions?