Moving beyond the floor target case study: Various primary schools, Salford

Schools context and profile

Barton Moss Primary School

Number on roll (NOR): 184. Age range: three to 11.

The school serves an area of high social deprivation and prior attainment is well below average. Approximately 50% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (FSM), which is well above the national average (although this varies due to high mobility). The vast majority (93%) of pupils are white British. Currently 7% of children speak English as an additional language and these numbers have shown a recent increase. Almost 27% of pupils have special educational needs , including learning difficulties, speech or communication problems or social, emotional and behaviour difficulties. This is slightly higher than the national average. The school last had an Ofsted inspection in 2004.

Key Stage 2 results level 4+
2005: English 52%; mathematics 43%
2006: English 62%; mathematics 62%
2007: English 72%; mathematics 80%

St. Andrew’s Primary School, Eccles

NOR: 183. Age range: three to 11.

Prior attainment on entry is well below average and there is high pupil mobility. 33% of pupils are eligible for FSM, which is above the national average. The percentage of pupils identified as having special educational needs is well above the national average (36%). There is an above average proportion of pupils from ethnic minorities or who speak English as an additional language, arriving at Key Stage 2 without speaking any English (48%, subsequently rising to 68%).

The school last has an Ofsted inspection in November 2007 and was judged good with some outstanding features.

Key Stage 2 results level 4+
2005: English 59%; mathematics 55%
2006: English 46%; mathematics 43%
2007: English 78%; mathematics 89%

St Thomas of Canterbury R.C. Primary School

NOR: 207. Age range: three to 11.

The school is a voluntary aided Roman Catholic school in an area of mixed housing in the inner city area of Salford. Prior attainment is well below average. Just over half of the pupils (57%) are from minority ethnic backgrounds, including African, Polish and Czech and many are not fluent English speakers. Many pupils leave and start the school at different points in their primary education. Numbers of pupils eligible for FSM are well above average (63%). Just over a quarter of the pupils have learning difficulties and/or disabilities (25%).

The school has been in Special Measures since July 2006. Targets are to:

• raise standards and achievement throughout the school especially for pupils in Key Stage 2;
• improve the quality of teaching and raise expectations of what pupils can achieve;
• improve monitoring and evaluation and the use of assessment data to accelerate pupils’ progress.

Key Stage 2 results level 4+
2005: English 56%; mathematics 50%