Children at Gosford Park Primary school enjoy satisfactory or better teaching in 88% of lessons with nearly half assessed as good or very good by OFSTED inspectors.

The inspection revealed that the school provides well:

• For the spiritual, moral social and cultural development of its pupils

• Provision for under five and good teaching in Year 6

• There are harmonious relationships within a culturally diverse society

• There is good attainment of pupils in both key stages in religious education

• The provision of homework provides a good link between learning at home and school

• Extra curricular provision is good and the school runs before and after school clubs for working parents

OFSTED inspectors identified that although the school is doing some things well, it has serious weaknesses will form the basis for the governors’ action plan to remedy areas of concern noted as key tasks, following the inspection on 23 – 26 November 1998.

Concerns were raised in the following areas:

Mathematics – the work in measurement, data handling and problem solving lags behind the satisfactory work in number and computation

English and science – too little progress made and the standard of work seen in lessons and books is low.

The junior school pupils are not showing sufficient progress in computer work and attainment is below national expectations.

There are insufficient methods for the checking of the curriculum, learning and the quality of teaching.

The governing body and school management have not focused the efforts of all staff on raising standards, and they have insufficient methods of checking the implementation of aims and policies.

The governors do not have good procedures for putting into place an effective plan to inform their decision about spending, nor do they monitor spending decisions effectively.

Unsatisfactory lessons were mainly seen in English, information technology and physical education. The quality of teaching in the under 5’s and in year 6 was generally good and never less than satisfactory. In history and geography the teaching is good and also in Key Stage 2 physical education.

The strength of the school is highlighted through the continued good work of individual teachers and members of staff. The national literacy and numeracy strategies have been successfully introduced by the English and mathematics co-ordinators. The governing body is committed to undertake training to assist them to carry out their responsibilities. A new headteachers, Miss J M Olney B.Ed was appointed in January 1999.

Taking the above factors into consideration, the capacity for the school to improve is judged to be sound.

Cllr Joe Clifford, chair of Education Excellence Policy Team, said

"It is nice that strengths within the school have been recognised. One of the benefits of the inspection is that sometimes people from outside can identify things that may have been missed. The headteacher, Judith Olney, is well placed to carry forward the key issues that OFSTED have identified."

Headteacher Judith Olney said

"With the commitment and hard work of all the staff and governing body, I am confident that the school will address the key tasks set by OFSTED. I am looking forward to the challenge and hope to show progress and achievement in all areas before the next inspection."

Chair of Governors, Peter Burnett said

"The governors were disappointed with the overall conclusion of the report given the percentage of satisfactory teaching. The governors would be working closely with the new head, staff and LEA to ensure that the weaknesses are addressed."