pdf School inspection report - Ofsted

158. Most pupils show positive attitudes towards their work in physical education, working
hard to improve their performance and enjoying what they do. Their high level of
effort is accompanied by good behaviour. For example, there was a quiet, busy
atmosphere in a Year 4 games lesson, despite it taking place in the cavernous
basement hall in which high noise levels are difficult to avoid. In many classes, a
small number of pupils show less interest in the subject and tend to adopt the role of a
passive observer.
159. The quality of most of the teaching in physical education lessons is satisfactory, with
about 40 per cent rated good or very good. There were no unsatisfactory lessons.
Teachers begin lessons with warming-up activities but these are sometimes too gentle
to fulfil their objective. There is a good emphasis on developing skills with, in most
instances, plenty of time for pupils to practise and good support for individual pupils to
show them ways to improve. Good use is made of pupil demonstrations to ensure
that all pupils, including those at an early stage of learning English, know what is
expected of them. A Key Stage 2 teacher demonstrated mirroring a partner’s
movements in a dance lesson and this resulted in pupils working more imaginatively.
In good lessons like these, teachers are clear about what skills they wish to teach or
improve. They focus on specific objectives so that all pupils make large strides in their
learning. For example, a Year 1 teacher strongly motivated pupils to improve by
questions such as Is every part of your body stretched? or What could be stretched
more?, and this led to a much higher level of performance. Although noise levels are
occasionally too high, teachers exert effective control over their pupils. They respond
instantly to commands to stop, so that a safe working environment is maintained at all
times.
160. The school’s programme in Key Stage 1 consists of a good balance of games, dance
and gymnastics lessons. To these are added swimming and athletics in Key Stage 2.
It is hoped to increase the provision for outdoor and adventurous activities when the
new school is opened later in the year. In accordance with the local authority’s advice
on physical education in multi-faith schools, swimming is now taught to pupils in Years
3 and 4 rather than to the older pupils.
161. The headteacher, currently absent from the school, is the subject manager for
physical education. His considerable expertise and energetic promotion of the subject
has enabled all staff to teach with confidence. New opportunities have been grasped
well. For example, sporting links with other schools have been used very effectively to
give pupils experience of competitive games and also of contrasting cultures. The
sponsorship of local businesses has been successfully harnessed to obtain resources
the school could not otherwise afford, such as football kits for the school team.
162. There is a good range of extra-curricular sporting activities open to Key Stage 2
pupils. Resources and accommodation for the subject are good, apart from the
absence of a grassed area for outdoor games. The school is aware of the need to
update its policy statements.
Greenhill Community School - 47