What is an inspection?

The activity for which OFSTED is best known is school inspection where they have a statutory responsibility to keep the Secretary of State for Education and Employment informed about:

- the quality of education provided by schools in England;
 
- the educational standards achieved by pupils in those schools;
 
- whether the financial resources made available to those schools are managed efficiently; and
 
- the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at those schools
 

To fulfill these requirements, and thus carry out its legislative functions, OFSTED set up an inspection system to ensure that each state school in England is inspected every six years. It has to make sure that there are sufficient Registered Inspectors (RgIs) available so that they can submit tenders and compete for secondary, primary and special school inspection contracts. OFSTED sets the framework for these inspections, recruits and trains both RgIs and team members including lay inspectors, and monitors these arrangements. RgIs and team inspectors are not HMI or OFSTED employees. They are drawn from private firms and local education authorities acting under contract to OFSTED.

OFSTED have just completed an inspection and we anticipate the final report in January 2002. Further details will be published then. Until the final report is available, we have included the results from the previous inspection.

Results of the previous OFSTED Inspection

At the last OFSTED inspection, 6 areas were identified for action.

Provide detailed guidance on the knowledge and skills which are to be taught in all subject areas.

The National Literacy Strategy and the National Numeracy Strategy, which provide detailed guidance on the teaching of English and Maths, are taught in all year groups. The School Development Plan 2000-2001 provides for the review of all other subjects to ensure that they comply with the requirements of National Curriculum 2000.

Improve the progress of higher attaining pupils by providing opportunities to further extend their work.

The development of an Able Learners Policy has been planned for in the School Development Plan for 2000-2001. The issue has been discussed by the Governors’ Curriculum Committee and a policy is in the process of being drafted. Members of staff have attended training courses in Maths and English designed to promote awareness of the needs of Able Learners. The Head Teacher supported Year 5 and Year 6 Able Learners in Maths on a regular basis in the Spring term.

Review arrangements for homework for older pupils in order to further extend their learning (especially in core subjects).

The school policy on homework has been reviewed by Staff and continues to operate. Resources in English and Maths have been purchased to support homework provision in Key Stage 2 in these curriculum areas.

Improve book provision and resources throughout the school, particularly in Science, Maths, Music and Language.

After an audit of resources, £1000 was spent in the Autumn Term on Maths books and equipment in order to enhance provision in this subject. Further resources to support Literacy in Key Stage 2 were purchased and in the summer term £500 was spent on Science resources.

Further develop systems in which the pupils’ work is monitored and evaluated by Curriculum Coordinators.

The process of monitoring the curriculum has commenced and is identified as an area for further development in the School Development Plan for 2000-2001. A draft policy is in operation which outlines the process whereby monitoring will take place. The Head Teacher, the School Adviser, the Maths and Literacy Consultants and the Literacy Coordinator have undertaken curriculum monitoring during the year 1999-2000.

Raise the level of sustained concentration and encourage pupils to adopt good work habits by developing their self-discipline and giving them skills to be independent learners.

The discipline policy has been reviewed during this year. Celebration Assemblies are held weekly and certificates continue to be awarded for effort in class. In response to an identified need to strengthen the policy in Key Stage 2, team points are earned which build towards a Head Teacher’s certificate. Behaviour charts have been established and three mentions on these in a week leads to the sanction of a missed playtime in order to reflect on behaviour. Termly targets have been set to raise expectations and attainment of pupils and self-discipline and co-operation have been developed both in lesson time and in the playground.

This policy continues under termly review as part of the School Development plan for 2000-2001