Hollingwood Primary School

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Hollingwood Primary School
Lilac Street,
Hollingwood,
Chesterfield,
Derbyshire,
S43 2JG.

Telephone

01246 472417

Website

http://www.hollingwood.derbyshire.sch.uk

Children's Service Authority

Derbyshire County Council

Age Range

3-11

Number of Pupils

381

Head Teacher

Mr Stephen Hull

Chair of Governors

Mr John Wallace

In the last year we have achieved our 3rd Basic Skills Quality Mark, the Derbyshire Anti-Bullying Excellence Award, the Financial Management Standard in Schools, International Schools Award - Foundation level and have just achieved the Healthy Schools Award.

There is the continued success and impact of our Learning Mentor, working with individuals, families and agencies; with exciting work now developing in our Growing Better in Derbyshire project across school.

Our involvement in the Intensifying Support Programme has contributed to improvements in learning and our selection for Let's Get Cooking, Connecting Classrooms and Community Cohesion projects; our involvement with the Primary Music Festival, the many visits and visitors all enhancing and enriching the opportunities we provide.

Our end of KS1 results have been maintained and KS2 results have improved, with more to do, internal assessment and tracking shows progress and represents the emerging impact of the work we have been engaged in over the last couple of years.

We have a very strong, hard-working core staff team who have again helped us to make good progress. We have the capacity and are keen to make further progress.

The quality of teaching and the quality of children's learning through a focussed programme of training, implementation, provision mapping, tracking, target setting, monitoring and evaluation. This is achieved through scrutiny of planning, children's work, classroom observation, talking to children and end of and in-year assessments.

We have been developing our new creative curriculum, with topics chosen by staff and children, proving very popular. 88% and 85% of all children in school enjoyed the last two topics.

We are improving the quality and quantity of resources to enable the learning process to take place through a stimulating and challenging environment, with adequate support to encourage confidence and independence. We are embracing the notion of excellence and enjoyment, with more still to do.

Refurbishment of the children's toilets was completed in July 2007. We are currently engaged in the process of developing a new school, to be built on the existing school site, opening in September 2010. We are continuing to try hard to improve the outdoor learning environment, to benefit us now and in the new school.

More details are on the school website and in Newsletters.

The chart shows our school's contextual value added (CVA) score relative to that of other primary schools. CVA is a statistical means of assessing how effective a school is, by measuring pupils' progress using their test and examination results. The confidence interval (the 'I' shape on the graph) shows the range within which we can be confident the score (calculated on the results of only one year group) represents the overall effectiveness of a school. The percentile rank shows the percentage of schools with a score equal to or higher than ours.

• Our School
• Local Schools (within Derbyshire LEA)
• All Schools

This chart shows the Key Stage 2 results for 2007. It indicates the percentage of pupils eligible for KS2 tests (usually 11 year olds) who achieved or exceeded the expected level (level 4).

The Foundation Stage results have become more consistent and inline with local and national expectations. We have analysed the results and made adjustments to cater for areas of underperformance. In 2008 we again saw positive improvement in the areas we focussed on, with more to do, at the higher level.

In KS1, following a systematic approach to intervention, we have raised attainment in Reading, Writing, Maths and Science. In 2008, results were within national expectations and good for the cohort, with an increased number of Level 3 results across the subjects.

In KS2 we are seeing some reward, results in 2006 put the cohort within range of expected outcomes. In 2007, we stalled, but in 2008 made good progress at L4 with improvements in teaching and learning working through and taking effect. Our cohort tracking enables us to monitor progress effectively and respond to need, helping us to target support for individual children across school. Putting us in a very strong position to be even more focussed and proactive in achieving expected outcomes by the end of Key Stages in the years ahead. Indications for 2009 are that pupils are well on track to achieve targets at L4 and L5.

We have continued to improve the quality and quantity of resources available for children to use. We have trained staff further to support learning by improving aspects of asking questions, sharing the big picture, developing problem solving and strategies to improve speaking and listening.

We are continuing to develop our target setting procedures and using the optional SATs in KS2 to track children's progress. The data is used to set appropriate challenging targets in the future. We also track this data against expected national outcomes to monitor individual and year group progress. Children requiring additional support; receive it, depending on need - Learning Mentor support, Intervention groups, special educational needs and Gifted and Talented. Meeting children's needs is also achieved within the classroom by differentiating the work.

We continue to benefit from our investment in ICT with an ICT suite and interactive whiteboard in each classroom. We also provide access to a variety of web-based learning resources, including our own website with a Kid Zone and have purchased membership of GridClub which can be accessed at home.

Pupil surveys helps us to focus on addressing the issues, as seen by children, over time.

The annual parent survey findings are incorporated into the School Improvement Plan. There are three parents evenings each year; attendance is around 72% to 100%, depending on the class and time of year. Parents receive an annual children's report in June.

We have provided successful curriculum open events for parents over 3 years, giving parents the opportunity to spend half a day in classrooms, finding out how we work, talking to staff about what they do and being very impressed with children's behaviour, the calmness of school and how hard the work was! Unfortunately the events were not very attended, but we hope to build on them.

A group of parents have been established for almost two years, running a monthly coffee morning, raising funds for school, organising successful school and community events and are a tremendous asset to the school.

A high percentage of Parents attend sports days, Christmas Fairs, concerts and other events.

We are a member of the Staveley Brimington Learning Community, local schools working together for the benefit of all children in the local community. We are a member of the Chesterfield Excellence Cluster, focussed on raising attainment and attendance.

Following a pupil survey, children told us they would like lessons to be more interesting and fun and would benefit from the bigger picture, knowing what to do next in order to improve. Therefore, we have been building on improving this, e.g. with displays of writing showing what makes it Level 3 and detailing what children need to do next in their own writing. We have also included in Homework diaries, level descriptions in Literacy, Numeracy and Science to support children further.

Class Councils discuss issues regularly and the SEAL materials provide opportunity for children to discuss issues around their social and emotional development, including discussions raised by the children around bereavement, separation and bullying. This has enabled us to target appropriate support or resources.

Homework diaries have been provided since 2007, for all of KS2 and Cairo and Ottawa classes. This extends the 2006 trial which was very popular with children, as the diaries were "better than the secondary school ones."

We have tried to use regular supply teachers to give some continuity, as children have told us they like to know who will be teaching them when their teacher is absent.

In June 2008, 87% parents reported their children were happy at school, 87% that they felt safe and 95% agreed with our stance on healthy snacks and appreciated our provision of fresh palatable drinking water.

We are proactive in the areas of Health Promoting Schools and the Derbyshire Anti-Bullying Commitment, also achieving the Sports Mark Award. We continue to provide at least two hours of P.E. per week with 82% parents recognising this. A range of sports and sporting events are supported, including KS2 children receiving a minimum of seven swimming sessions each year.

95% parents acknowledged that we try to ensure good behaviour at all times. Ongoing work with the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) materials contributes to the development of all children in school. Coincidentally, 87% parents also felt that their children were making good progress. 96% were pleased with the values we promote.

Lunch Clubs ensure children feel safe and well-supported. They act as a drop-in for children who would like additional support and structure, as well as providing it for those children who find lunchtime difficult. Our aim now is to improve the quality of lunchtime for all.

• Our School
• Local Schools (within Derbyshire LEA)
• All Schools

This chart shows the percentage of half days missed through authorised and unauthorised absence by all pupils at the school. Information is given for the school, for schools within the local authority and for all schools.

Residential experiences are available in KS2 to Lea Green and Whitehall, with visits to places of educational interest for all children throughout each year of the school. Music tuition is available.

A variety of Clubs and activities are offered, mostly for KS2, including Netball, Football, Let's Get Cooking, KNex challenge, etc. A Lunch Club operates for all children providing a range of indoor and outdoor activities, including gardening and games. We regularly have theatre groups in to contribute to the enrichment of the curriculum. We are in the 3rd year of a school-wide subscription to GridClub, a popular online learning tool for use at school and home.

Class Councils operate in each class and contribute two members to the School Council, who have for example been involved in staff appointments, advertising for and recruiting Playground Buddies, choosing the colour scheme for the refurbished toilets and consulted in the design of the new school. The School Council have a budget and have purcased additional lunchtime games for children to use.

A Breakfast and After School Club operate onsite throughout term-time, providing a range of sporting, artistic and leisure activities.

Our pupils mostly go to either one of two local secondary schools, Springwell or Netherthorpe, with occasionally children going to St Mary's R.C. School, in Chesterfield.

We have developed a good relationship with both local schools, improved through membership of the Staveley Brimington Learning Community, taking part in a range of joint initiatives and activities.

There is a well established transition programme; including curriculum materials, developed for our Y6, beginning when they are in Y5 with visits to the schools, open evening events to inform parents and culminating in sessions run by our Learning Mentor and Learning Mentor / or Education Welfare staff from the secondary schools either side of Transition day. For children who may have particular problems with transition, there are additional visits and we liaise very closely with the school support staff from the respective schools.

We also carry out transition work at FS1 to FS2 shared with parents, and from Y2 to Y3, which is also shared with parents. Our future intention is to develop this experience further, for both children and parents. Transition to secondary school, effectively begins in Y5.

Ofsted's View Of The School

This is an improving school which is providing a satisfactory standard of education. Staff and governors see their school as being at the heart of its community and everyone is working together to improve the quality of the education provided for its children. The school takes care to meet the pastoral needs of pupils, keeping them safe and happy and ensuring they enjoy their time at school. Pupils develop satisfactory personal skills. They learn how to keep safe and work for the 'ActiveSports' Mark, and the Healthy Schools Award has helped them develop a sound understanding of how to make healthy lifestyle choices. They are successfully taught that they can make a difference to the lives of others.

Children enter the school with levels of knowledge and understanding similar to national expectations. They make a satisfactory start in the Nursery and Reception classes and by the time they enter Year 1 they have made satisfactory progress with most achieving the standards expected for their age. Standards at the end of Year 2 had been improving over recent years though there was a dip in 2006. They are now similar to those found in most schools, representing satisfactory progress. Standards in the Year 6 national tests began to decline in 2001. In 2004 and 2005 they were significantly below most schools, representing considerable underperformance. However, teaching and the academic guidance of pupils have improved greatly, resulting in better standards and progress in 2006. Pupils are currently achieving satisfactorily in Years 3 to 6. Those with learning difficulties make similar progress to their peers.

Teaching is satisfactory overall. Teachers promote good relationships with pupils and are now making better use of assessment information to plan activities. The impact of this has yet to be seen over time and there is still not enough good teaching to ensure that all pupils progress well. Pupils are now much clearer about what they need to do to improve their work and the school is beginning to use the useful information it collects more effectively to ensure that they are challenged and supported to achieve. The curriculum promotes pupils' personal development effectively and offers some enrichment but it is not interesting and stimulating enough. Aspects of the school environment are not conducive to the development of positive and enthusiastic attitudes to learning. For example, the corridor used as a teaching area, the toilets and one of the playgrounds are in a poor condition. The school has recognised these shortcomings and appropriate plans are in place to address them.

Staff have worked hard over recent months to put measures in place to improve academic achievement. However, it is too early to see the full impact of these. Though self-evaluation is satisfactory, the work of all school leaders is not rigorous or focused enough on developing sharp procedures to deliver improvements and this slows progress. A significant number of parents who responded to the inspectors' questionnaire are not confident that leaders of the school respond appropriately to their concerns. However, the school has demonstrated that it has made satisfactory improvement since the last inspection and therefore that it has satisfactory capacity to improve further. It offers sound value for money.

For more information, view our full Ofsted report.

What Have We Done In Response To Ofsted?

In December 2006 we were identified as an improving school, and graded satisfactory in all areas. We have continued with the work identified through our previous School Improvement Plan, building into this year's plan, as we aim to embed the positive improvements we have been making, so that children's achievements are even greater.

Whilst we are far from content with being satisfactory, Ofsted judgements matched our own, we are confident that this work will continue to enable us to improve further and raise standards in all areas of school.

We can demonstrate progress with the quality of teaching and learning. We are developing a creative curriculum that interests and stimulates pupils, building on the previous work of themed weeks, opportunities for cross-curricula work and variety of work within the classroom. The learning environment has been improved through our ISP work and the toilet refurbishment was completed in July 2007.

We are continuing our curriculum open events, parent surveys, continuing to share information openly in a variety of ways and are excited about the work of the HCHGT, helping develop closer links between school, home and the wider community.

If you would like more information about school policies, including our policies on special educational needs and disability, admissions, finance, school food and our complaints procedure, please contact us:

Telephone

01246 472417

Website

http://www.hollingwood.derbyshire.sch.uk