2004/2005 Croft Community Primary School

Croft Community Primary School

Croft Street
Walsall, West Midlands, WS2 8JE
Telephone: 01922 720689

What have been our successes this year?

Our successes this year have been mainly to secure excellent key stage two results, the best our pupils have ever achieved. From a very low point in 2003, over the last two years results have put our school as the ninth most improved out of all schools in the country! A stunning success. This success has been due to: a more stable and effective staff who now work together as a team; a robust staff development programme; LEA support and challenge through various initiatives such as the Intensifying Support Programme; setting targets for pupils and staff; improvements in the learning environment; increasing parental involvement in the education of their children and in the life of the school; excellent support and advice from governors particularly in finance. However, there is still much to be done, to maintain that improvement.

What are we trying to improve?

We still need to improve our overall standards. The government set a benchline of 65% level 4 and above at key stage two. Even though we had great results in 2005, they were still just below the government target. We want to make pupils' time at our school happy and successful, and really make a difference to the time that they have spent here. That difference could be academic attainment and overall achievement, for example in sports. To secure that improvement, we need to work more closely with parents and the community, so that the children see that we are working together, saying the same things to them about their education. The role that parents play in their children's education and development is crucial to their success at school, parents need to support the school in helping their children. Pupils' attendance needs to improve, there are still too many children taking long holidays during term time, this can hamper their educational progress.

How much progress do pupils make between age 7 and 11?

How well do pupils achieve at age 11?

How have our results changed over time?

Results are improving over the last three years. Since the introduction of statutory testing, pupils at Croft have never achieved above the government baseline. Results have been disappointingly low in recent years. Over the last three years key stage two results have been as follows:
2003; English 16&; Mathematics 18%; Science 22%.
2004; English 38%; Mathematics 38%: Science 43%.
2005; English 65%; Mathematics 65% Science 69%.
Trends over the last three years show a significant improvement. The aim is to maintain that upward trend. Now we have a good stable staff in place, able and committed governors, and parents becoming more informed about their children's education, results should continue to rise.

How are we making sure we are meeting the learning needs of individual pupils?

The individual learning needs of pupils are met through several ways: curriculum planning to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with special needs and those who are gifted and talented; budget planning supports individualised learning by providing money for extra activities for gifted and talented pupils, and in maintaining the work of teaching assistants in classrooms; training has been provided for teaching assistants, enabling them to be more effective in supporting the work of the teachers; special needs pupils have Individaul Education Plans (IEP's) which are monitored regularly to ensure that those pupils receive their entitlement; resources are purchased to support an individualised curriculum as appropriate; teachers are monitored regularly to ensure good qaulity teaching and learning is taking place, for all pupils.

How do we make sure our pupils are healthy, safe and well-supported?

Governors have used finances well to make the premises safe. In the last year governors have authorised spending to: secure the perimeter of the school; install a new alarm system; replace old, worn out doors and windows; improve the security of the front entrance. The school has set up a school council which is made up of children, voted in by their peers. The school council discusses issues which are improtant to the children, for example bullying. Their ideas are used to improve the safety and well being of all pupils. The school is now providing more healthy school meals, with more fresh foood, and there are now more activities which support fitness. The school is working towards achieving the Healthy Schools Status, to include all matters of health and fitness for our pupils.

How do our absence rates compare with other schools?

What activities are available to pupils?

In addition to the statutory curriculum activities, the school now provides extra curricula activties which include clubs at dinner times: computer; music; cookery; art; games. After school there are netball and football clubs, plus cricket in the summer. In the school holidays there is 'science week' run in conjunction with Sure Start. Before school there is a computer club, and the aim is to set up a breakfast club from September. Off site education includes: educational visits at least once a year per class; other trips for mainly key stage two pupils using gifted and talented funds; buddying projects with other local schools; visits to Sure Start by the younger pupils to use their library and other facilities. The community association next door also provides activities after school.

How are we working with parents and the community?

The school keeps parents informed of their children's progress by holding termly consultation days, when parents and carers are invited to attend during the school day to see the work of their children. We send out weekly newsletters. We host all kinds of meetings for and with parents such as social services and health meetings. There is a home school liaison worker who is on call most of the day to meet parents' needs, often for translating and form filling. The head teacher holds termly presnattions for parenst around particular topics, such as attendance. We set up other meetings on topics such as head lice, healthy eating, homework. We work with Sure Start to provide family learning, and organise visits for parents and pupils on trips to the library.

What have pupils told us about the school, and what have we done as a result?

The children have told us, through the school council, that they would like more clubs and activities. We have already put some on for them, and there are plans to do more next year, for example the breakfast club. At times, children also worry about the possibility of being bullied. The school completely changed the 'behaviour management' systems, so that all staff are now trained to deal with any inappropriate behaviour immediately. All staff have had training on child protection issues, which will help the children to be and feel safe. The school ethos is positive, and all at school are encourged to use praise and positive actions at all times.

What do our pupils do after leaving this school?

On leaving Croft, our pupils go onto secondary school, we feed to several in the local area, including: Alumwell Business College; Sneyd Comprehensive; Frank F. Harrison Community School; Palfrey Girls School. Willenhall Sports College. In 2005 we had our first ever pupil from Croft go onto Queen Mary's Grammar School.

What have we done in response to Ofsted?

The last inspection was in November 2001. The key issues arising from that OFSTED inspection were: improve standards; improve the library provision. Over the last three years, the current head, staff and governors have set about improving standards and addressing the last OFSTED report. We now have much improved library provision, which includes use of mobile library and Sure Start library. We would like to expand our own library however, and may have to create more space in which to house it. We have invested in library software to improve the in house provision, and bought more books!

The standards agenda remains a priority, and all school improvement planning is aimed at improving standards. There have been some succeses, as in 2005 we had the best ever results at key stage two, but this needs to be maintained, and there is still work to be done to ensure the continuous improvement that we all want for all of our children.

More Information

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:

By telephone 01922 720689

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