pdf School inspection report - Ofsted

What could be improved
• Raise standards, especially in English and mathematics, across the school.
• Attendance and punctuality are unsatisfactory with only 88 per cent attendance recorded in
recent months and pupils are regularly late.
• The governing body it is not sufficiently active and does not act as a critical friend, reacting to
situations created within the school rather than having its own vision for the school’s future and
holding it to account.
• The school administration has good manual accounts but has not yet introduced computerised
systems which would give access to more detailed information about finances and aid the
management of the school.
• Comprehensive monitoring of teaching and the curriculum takes place and whilst this is used to
develop the curriculum effectively, the development of teaching skills is incidental rather than
planned.
The areas for improvement will form the basis of the governors’ action plan.
HOW THE SCHOOL HAS IMPROVED SINCE ITS LAST INSPECTION
The school was last inspected on 11 November 1996. Progress since then has been good. The
introduction of the National Literacy Strategy is beginning to impact on standards and has had a
beneficial effect on writing, which was identified as a particular weakness in the last inspection.
Standards remain very low because of pupils’ significantly disadvantaged backgrounds and because
all pupils speak English as an additional language with few opportunities to practise speaking English
out of school hours. At both Key Stages 1 and 2 there is evidence that improvement is occurring in
standards compared with similar schools. Pupils are well above average at Key Stage 1 in reading
and writing and very high in mathematics. At Key Stage 2 pupils are in line in English and
mathematics and above in science. The introduction of the National Numeracy and Literacy
Strategies have strengthened pupils’ language development and number skills, but at this relatively
early stage of implementation have had greater impact at Key Stage 1 than Key Stage 2. The use of
setting of pupils in literacy and numeracy has been particularly effective. In mathematics pupils’
understanding of space, shape, and problem solving, remains an area for development, as it was in
the last inspection. There has been significant improvement in science since the last inspection,
especially in experimental and investigative science. Information and communication technology has
improved significantly especially at Key Stage 2. The increased provision of computers in the new
suite and additions to the software used have had a marked effect on standards, which are better
than the last inspection. Standards in art are good at both key stages and have improved since the
last inspection. In religious education pupils now gain deeper knowledge and standards have
improved and teaching is better. Teaching is very good, overall, and there was no unsatisfactory
teaching during the inspection. This is a significant improvement from the last inspection. It is the
cumulative effect of these improvements which has raised standards.
Greenhill Community School - 8