Walter Evans Annual Reportfrom the Governing Body2011-2012

P: 01332 557139 E: admin@walterevans.derby.sch.uk W: www.walterevans.derby.sch.uk

Turn to page 3 to read all about our

OFSTED and

Church SchoolInspection

If you would like to know more about the work of the Governing Body, our website has minutes of our most recent meetings:www.walterevans.derby.sch.uk/Governors/Governing+Body+Minutes

Welcome …

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends

On behalf of the Governing Body I am delighted to introduce our2011-2012 Annual Report. This is especially so given the widerange of successful results and outcomes of our variousinspections in the last twelve months.

As you will read, our OFSTED grading is now “Good” and theoutcome of our Church Schools inspection was “Outstanding”.Our SATs continue to be one of the best in the City. These resultsare indicative of the hard work and commitment to improvementby the whole School team. They do not reflect a snapshot on theday, but are testament to the Governors and Senior LeadershipTeam’s strategy of improvement over the preceding three years.

They are all the more rewarding given that for two of those years we had an incomplete Senior Leadership Team, owing to Mrs Simmons and Mrs Core each being seconded to otherschools for significant periods. I would like to thank the wholeschool team for their commitment to driving higher standardswhich has resulted in these grades.

However, we are not resting on our laurels and the Governors arenow focussed on further improvements and raising of standards.

I would like to thank Lynda Innocent, Chair of Governors for thelast three years, for her leadership throughout this period ofimprovement. We are pleased to retain Lynda’s experience onthe Governing Body.

Finally, on behalf of the Governors I must pay tribute to ourChildren, who consistently impress our visitors with theirmanners, ability and personalities, and also thank you all for yourcontinued support and engagement in school life.

Best Wishes,

Peter McCreaChair of Governors

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Financial Statements 2010-11 & 2011-12April 2010 – March 2011 April 2011 – March 2012

Brought fwd from previous year £36,754 £26,097

Income

Budget £891,004 £985,643

Other Income £155,972 £135,360

Total available funding £1,083,730 £1,147,100

Expenditure

Employee costs £917,640 £914,215

Premises costs £44,352 £37,496

Transport costs £3,828 £5,650

Supplies and services £60,586 £72,920

Agency payments £31,227 £16,909

Capital financing costs £nil £22,250

Total expenditure £1,057,633 £1,069,440

Budget cfwd £26,097 £77,660

As a school we have been working especially hard toimprove our partnership with parents over the last twoyears by working towards the Leading Parent Partnership Award.

During this time we have taken on board advice and opinions from the parent body in the form ofquestionnaire responses and from a parent forumworkshop but also from staff and governors too.All this advice and suggestions have beenformed into an action plan, which has beenincluded into the school improvement planover the last and the present school year.

Actions, which have been successfully carriedout and implemented recently include: a lowlevel and open reception area to be morewelcoming for parents; the recruitment of nineparent ambassadors and the welcoming of Year 1 and 2 parents into the classrooms to read with children each morning before registration.

We hope you have noticed or taken part in these improvementsand will look out for further opportunities to take part in theschool’s endeavours to improve its partnership with parents.

Walter Evans Parent Partnership

The figures above are for our main revenue account (Budget) held with Derby City Council but set and monitored in school. Within the school we also have our own accounts for smaller, everyday sums (eg school trips), and these accounts are audited annually. Our major building projects were 90% funded by the Government (DfE); this funding was allocated by agreement with the Diocese of Derby and Derby City Council Children and Young People’s Services, supplemented by our modest devolved capital budget. We have to find the remaining 10% of capital costs from other sources (eg PTFA, or the main revenue account). As always we are most grateful to parents and friends who support a variety of projects through the PTFA, which has an independent account.

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• our cross-curricular themed approach forms • a lively backdrop and engages pupils in • their learning.

• numeracy and literacy skills have risen through • good target setting procedures.• the clear and consistent care support and • guidance pupils receive enable them to under-• stand what is expected of them as learners.• all groups of pupils do well overall and achieve • their potential.• the school’s leaders draw committed teamwork • from all the staff.

“This is a good school which has improved sincethe previous inspection. The leaders andmanagers create a purposeful and welcomingplace to learn, in which everyone is assured ofindividual care and attention in a safe, friendlyand stimulating environment. This was confirmed by parents who typically commented, ‘My children are stimulated and challenged andexcited to learn.’ Consequently pupils achievewell and develop strong personal skills.”

Inspection Report, 2011.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank allstaff and parents for their support, not only duringthe inspection but as it continues into this newschool year, we are a team that enjoy and workhard together for the benefit of our pupils andchildren. It is in this way that we will continue to bea successful school into the future.

What do Ofsted feel we need to do to improvefurther?

• Increase the proportion of time for pupils to • engage in Active learning on challenging tasks • pitched at their ability.• Add learning objectives for literacy numeracy • and ICT into other subjects across our themed • learning units.• Improve the impact of activities provided for • FS pupils when learning outside.• Agree leadership posts at all levels as soon • as possible.

I look forward to working alongside governors,parents and staff in the coming year as we movetowards these objectives together.

Hannah SimmonsHeadteacher.

OFSTED, November 2011Nearly a year ago, whilst temporarily acting asExecutive Headteacher for a local federation ofschools, I received the expected, but alwaysdreaded, announcement phone call from MrsCore, to say, “They are on the way!” Each timewe have been inspected by Ofsted at WalterEvans the team and their approach has beencompletely different. This time, my thirdinspection since being at the school as Headteacher, was to be no different.

All staff set to during the intervening weekendbefore the team led by Ruth McFarlane arrived onTuesday the 15th November 2011; we finished ourpreparations and gathered all the requiredevidence. Following a number of investigatoryphone calls between myself and the lead inspectorwe also knew the main focus areas for inspectionwere going to be:

• How well is pupil progress in literacy and • numeracy promoted throughout the school, • including the use of targets?• Do pupils make progress at a consistent rate • throughout the school?• Has the contribution of subject leaders to • the drive for improvement improved since • the previous inspection?• What is the impact of the temporary leadership • arrangements in Early Years Foundation • Stage and overall?

A huge amount of evidence was gathered in manyways by the inspection team including lessonobservations, pupil book scrutiny, from our selfevaluations, interviews with members of staff andgovernors, talking to pupils, and analysing the 132 questionnaires sent into school by parents and carers.

The team of two and a half inspectors (three forone day and two for the second) at the end of avery busy two days thankfully agreed with our selfevaluation, one that we all know to be true - we area GOOD school, with good capacity to continue toimprove. We are all very proud that the teamacknowledged why we are a good school and howmuch improvement had taken place since theprevious inspection. We are considered to be aGOOD school because:

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Year 6 % Level 4+SATs Results (Level expected nationally 2011/12 for Y6 children)

Walter Evans Derby City

Reading 94% 82%

Writing 94% 75%

English 94% 80%

Maths 94% 80%

Both English & Maths 94% 75% -

SATs Results 2011-12Key Stage 2 – results for 31 pupils

Level 6+ SATs results were available to for the firsttime in May 2012 for Walter Evans pupils.

We are OUTSTANDING!As a Church of England School we arecommitted at Walter Evans to having a furtherinspection six weeks after Ofsted, by theDiocese, to assess, how as a school we aredeveloping our distinctiveness and Christiancharacter.

On January 10th 2012, Mr John Horwood came toinspect our school for the day. At our previousinspection, in 2008, we were awarded two of thefour areas of inspection as outstanding, with afurther two as good, - this time we were aiming foroutstanding all round!

During the inspection day, Mr Horwood joined usfor worship, observed two RE lessons, spoke toSarah Core, Acting Headteacher at the time andKarin Baker as Worship Leader, interviewed ourfoundation governors and found out by talking topupils what they thought of our provision in thefour areas to be inspected:

• The school through its distinctive Christian • character and how it meets the needs of • all learners.• The impact of collective worship on the • school community.• The effectiveness of our Religious Education.• The effectiveness of the leadership and • management of the school as a Church School.

It is fantastic to be able to report that througheveryone’s hard work and commitment to WalterEvans that this time we were rewarded with anoutstanding in all the four areas above. Well doneeveryone!

As usual there is always more to do and our focusfor development over the next three years is todevelop systems for the more regular monitoringof collective worship by the governors; as well as toincrease the priority of the school being a churchschool by including it as a standard agenda item inall meetings of the full governing body. We willcontinue to inform you of our progress in futurenewsletters.

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Many thanks to the parents and carers whospoke to either group of inspectors andsupported us during the two inspections above.Should you be interested in reading the fullreports, links to both, can be found on our schoolwebsite: www.walterevans.derby.sch.uk

Year 6 % Level 5+SATs Results2011/12

Walter Evans Derby City

Reading 81% 42%

Writing 55% 23%

English 61% 31%

Maths 61% 35%

Both English & Maths 52% 23% -

Year 6 % Level 6+SATs Results2011/12

Walter Evans Derby City

Reading 0%

Writing 0%

English 0%

Maths 19%

Both English & Maths 0% -

Results notavailable atpresent

Our Successes 2011-12

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Ofsted• Reaching a Good Ofsted grading and an • Outstanding in our Church School inspection.

Community• PTFA fundraising reached a massive £22,000 • by the end of the year. Many successful events • were held with special favourites being our • Olympic themed May Fair and A Night at the • Oscars Summer Ball. Many thanks and we • wouldn’t be the great school we are without • your support.

• Many pupils attended last year’s Remembrance • Service at St Matthews and placed crosses to • commemorate the fallen of Darley Abbey on • the memorial cross.

• Y5 pupils took part in the consecration of the • lower section of St Matthews churchyard led by • Rt Revd Humphrey Southern, Bishop of Repton.

• Before and After School Club numbers are • continuously increasing.

• All pupils and some parents and carers took • part in the Community Torch Relay between • local schools. Three pupils were nominated • to carry our torch to the celebrations in Darley • Park in June12.

• The well dressing made by pupils during • Folk Week.

• Pupils involvement in many fundraising projects • including Sport Relief and for our link school • in Swaziland.

Staff Achievements• Mrs S Core our ex Deputy Head was successful in • gaining her first substantive headship at Herbert • Strutt Primary School in Belper.

• The National Professional Qualification for • Headship and specialist Mathematics Teacher• were achieved by different member of our Senior • Leadership Team. Three teaching assistants • gained Higher Level Teaching Assistant Status• during the summer term. Congratulations to • them all.

• Mrs S Farrar raised £1200 for Clic Sargent by • completing the Great North Swim.

Buildings• A brand new Y3/4 classroom, fit for learning,• was ready for a lucky class in September 12.

• We also managed to achieve enlarged • recreation and planning areas for members of •• staff during the same building project.

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Achievement at KS2• Standards at the end of KS2 are outstanding,• continuing to be significantly above Derby City • in all areas at level 4+ and level 5+. For the first • time some pupils achieved level 6+ in Maths.

• Boys’ performance at Walter Evans at the end • of KS2 continues to be higher than for other • Derby City schools, at level 4+, in all areas.

• Girls’ achievement at level 5+ is higher than for • boys in all areas except Maths, where the gap • continues to narrow.

• Pupils achieve well in all phases and develop • strong personal skills.

Sporting Achievements• Y5/6 girls won the cross-country league team • event and championships, the cross-country • relay events and Y3/4 boys came second in the • championships.

• Walter Evans won the combined cross country • and track and field trophy.

• Y5s won the kwik sticks hockey tournament.

• Y5/6 girls made it to the finals of the 7 a-side • girls' football competition undefeated; sadly we • lost on penalties.

• KS1 children went to 'Playing on the Pitch'• Olympics and Y3 children went to the 'Playing • on the Pitch' football tournament at Pride Park.

• Y3/4 went to a mini-Olympics event at Derby • Derby University and KS1 took part in the • mini-Olympics roadshow.

• Other children took part in football league, • netball league, four kwik cricket competitions • and Y3/4 girls football tournament.

• We held a 'Change for Life' tri-golf club for • selected children.

Last year’s priorities were to continue to improve:• The progress of our pupils in Maths• The standard of writing• The level of challenge for our higher attaining • pupils, and • The provision and supervision of our pupils • at the lunchtime break.

This is us now:• 94% of our Y6 pupils achieved level 4+ in both • English and Maths up 3% on the previous year.

• 52% of our Y6 pupils achieved level 5+ in both• English and Maths up 16% on the previous year.

• 87% in English and 97% in Maths made the • expected progress across KS2.

• 55% of Y6 pupils gained a level 5+ in writing in • summer 12 compared to 43% the previous year.

• All our permanent Midday Supervisors had the • opportunity to visit Bishop Lonsdale CE School • to find out about their successful lunchtime • activity menu which provides choice and • engages pupils during their lunchtime break. • This good practice has been modified to fit • our environment and equipment bought to • resource it. We are continuing to develop this • priority this year.

This year’s priorities are to continue to improve:• The engagement of our pupils in active • learning opportunities.• Closing and narrowing gaps in learning • between different groups.• Outdoor learning in Foundation Stage.• The standard and consistency of writing across • the curriculum.

Our background priorities are to further develop:• Our parent partnership.• The monitoring of collective worship• by governors.• The physical environment of the school.• The provision and supervision of pupils • at lunchtimes.

Chair of Governors: Peter McCrea

Vice Chair of Governors: Diane Troman

Foundation Governors: Faye BoydJoanne DickieLouise Owen-McGeeDiane TromanRuth LeeSteven Clivery

Parent Governor: Peter McCrea

Teacher Governor: Stuart Lydon

Support Staff Governor: Denise Hill

LA Governor: Lynda Innocent

Headteacher: Hannah Simmons

Ex Officio: Revd Chris Dyer

Clerk to Governors: Jane Foulkes

Walter Evans CE Primary & Nursery SchoolDarley Abbey Drive Derby Derbyshire DE22 1EF

P: 01332 557139 E: admin@walterevans.derby.sch.uk W: www.walterevans.derby.sch.uk