National Society Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools Report

Barwick-in-Elmet Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Chapel Lane
Barwick in Elmet
Leeds
LS15 4HL
Diocese: West Yorkshire and the Dales
Local authority: Leeds
Date of inspection: 29th September 2014
Date of last inspection: 24th November 2009
School’s unique reference number: 107987
Headteacher: S Sanderson
Inspector’s name and number: C A Roberts 469
School context
Barwick-in-Elmet is a small village school with 195 pupils on roll including the nursery, most of whom live in the village. Most pupils are White British. The school has a lower than average proportion of children eligible for free school meals. Approximately 9.2% of pupils are on the special needs register at School Action or School Action Plus. The headteacher has been in post since April 2013. A new senior leadership team was established in September 2013 and five new members of teaching staff were appointed in the autumn term 2013.
The distinctiveness and effectiveness of Barwick-in-Elmet Primary School as a Church of England school are good
·  A clear vision based on explicit Christian values that powerfully motivates all members of the school community. This impacts on standards of achievement resulting in positive outcomes for children.
·  Children who are happy and behave well, relating their actions to Bible accounts as well as Christian values.
·  Uplifting worship that is central to the school day and enhances Christian values and the Christian character of the school.
·  A dedicated and strong leader and leadership team, supported by committed, hard- working staff and governors.
·  Strong relationships with the church, parents and local community that is mutually beneficial.
Areas to improve
·  Provide training for all governors on what a distinctive church school is, so they can continue to provide effective challenge as well as support.
·  Establish a formal and robust monitoring and evaluation programme for worship including all stakeholders especially pupils, to aid development of the impact of worship on the whole school community.
·  Ensure opportunities are developed for pupils to explore Christianity as a multi-cultural world faith.
·  Develop regular opportunities for pupils to plan and lead worship.
The school, through its distinctive Christian character, is good at meeting the needs of all learners
Explicit Christian values of hope, peace and koinonia underpin the vision at Barwick- in- Elmet Primary and support a strong Christian character. Christian values are explicit around school and on the school website, but more importantly children, parents as well as staff and leaders articulate these values. Children point out that ‘peace is important so we all get on’ and ‘we should have hope for new work and a new school year’. They particularly like the value of koinonia as ‘we all belong together’. These values powerfully motivate good relationships and behaviour across school. A clear behaviour management system is in place ‘It’s good to be green’ which stresses a fresh start and forgiveness. Consequently, pupil progress is positive with school historically reaching above government floor targets. Rigorous tracking of pupils is carried out in the spirit that ‘all children are unique and deserve the very best’. School identifies groups working below expectations and has appropriate and rigorous systems in place to support them. The Christian character of the school underpins the approach to attendance issues and exclusion. Opportunities for spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development are planned across the curriculum. The key driver for this is curiosity. The physical environment in school supports this through artefacts, pictures and thought provoking quotations. Globally the school has a link with a child in Nicaragua whom they sponsor. They are also setting up a project entitled Digital Leaders whereby children will be able to skype schools around the world. However, this aspect of respecting people of different cultural and faith communities is in its infancy. Worship and religious education (RE) also enhance understanding of and respect for diverse faiths and cultures as well as SMSC and make a good contribution to the Christian character of the school. For example in an RE lesson on Buddhism pupils thought about choices and taking the right path. Pupils show respect for people of faith whatever their religion. There is a clear scheme of work for RE that develops pupils’ understanding of Christianity. Leaders now need to ensure it explores Christianity as a multi-cultural world faith.
The impact of collective worship on the school community is good
Worship at Barwick-in-Elmet school is well planned and based firmly on Christian values, beliefs and festivals. It is central to school life and has a good impact on behaviour, relationships and expectations. For example children make links between Bible accounts and behaviour, ‘Jesus walked on water, so we should have faith’ and ‘The good woman and the foolish woman story, means always think before you act’. A range of people lead worship including the local vicar in school and also at church. Children enter into worship calmly, with anticipation and in the knowledge that this is a special time of day. Beautiful music helps to set an appropriate atmosphere. Children sing animatedly. They really value worship time. For example children state ‘worship is fun and we get involved’, ‘worship makes me feel peaceful and hopeful’ or ‘it makes me feel loving and helpful’. Worship begins with an Anglican greeting and children respond with enthusiasm and happiness. They act respectfully throughout and focus on the lighted candles and cross at key times in the worship, such as for prayer. Prayer is central to worship and the school day. Children understand that prayer can help people and state ‘by praying to God he will give you the help you need’. However, understanding of the Trinity is less well developed although leaders have started to address this by lighting three candles in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Children enjoy writing prayers for worship especially festival services in church. They would welcome the opportunity to develop this further by planning and leading their own worship. Many children understand why worship is important in life and state ‘it helps with rules’ and ‘if we didn’t worship God we wouldn’t follow a path and do the right things’. Most of the monitoring and evaluation of worship is undertaken informally, involving a range of stakeholders including children. School leaders have recognised the need for a clear framework for formal monitoring and evaluation and have identified a governor to be the key link person for this, but it is not yet in place.
The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the school as a church school is good
The headteacher and senior leaders are strong and work extremely hard to ensure the Christian vision is articulated and implemented to bring about rapid change and improvement. Parents are clear about this vision and plans are underway to ensure explicit values are reflected in key documentation to new parents. All stakeholders were involved in developing the vision, led by the local vicar and headteacher. Governors are hard-working and knowledgeable about many aspects of school improvement. They are proud to support and promote the Christian vision for the school. However, as there are several recently appointed governors, they now need training on what it means to be a distinctive church school, so they can continue to provide effective challenge as well as support. Leaders and governors have a clear picture about future leadership for church schools. Teachers have been identified as future leaders and receive appropriate support from the diocese as part of their on-going professional development. The headteacher and senior leaders monitor and evaluate the school as a church school with some governor involvement. This now needs to be formalised and lead to a clear development plan and promoted explicitly and regularly with all governors. The SIAMS toolkit clearly shows progress in addressing development points from the previous inspection. The school has positive links with the church and community, not only through services and RE lessons held in church but also through taking part in May Bank Holiday maypole traditions, harvest festival parcels to those in the local community, planting poppies and also the school choir performing at Mothering Sunday service. Parents equally have a strong relationship with school. They state ‘there is a sense of belonging to the school, church and community’ and ‘the school is very nurturing as well as educational’. Parents are keen to point out that the schools Christian values underpin this relationship. As one parent said ‘Children are happy and it is a lot to do with the church school status. It promotes what I feel children should have’.

SIAMS report September 2014 Barwick-in-Elmet Church of England VC Primary School LS15 4HL

NS 09 2013 SIAMS Inspection School Report