OFSTED 2008
Woodberry Down is an outstanding school that provides a high quality level of education for all its pupils. The executive principal is an inspirational leader who has built an excellent team of assistant headteachers. Together they have very high expectations of pupils and staff and ensure the school's policies and procedures are applied consistently. Teaching and learning are outstanding, as pupils make very rapid progress from low starting points to reach the national average
by the end of Year 6. Refugees and pupils who start school speaking little or no English do particularly well, and the level of pastoral care for all pupils is outstanding.
The school excels in many areas of its work, but is especially successful in the quality of the academic guidance it gives pupils and in its creative and culturally relevant curriculum. Staff show exceptional levels of innovation and flair in designing units of work that captivate pupils' imaginations and develops their skills across a range of subjects. For example, a project on the African American cycling champion, Marshall Taylor, enabled pupils to examine a variety of sources of information and use higher-order reading skills in their research. There is an extremely effective written dialogue in books, between teachers and pupils, that stems from an efficient system of marking using tailor-made labels. These show pupils how well they are doing, ask them questions to move their learning forward and set new targets for them. Pupils' responses show a heightened awareness of their learning. One pupil said, 'You get good advice and get your levels up.'
Standards are broadly average in English, mathematics and science. Most pupils attain the expected Level 4 by the end of Year 6, which is an outstanding achievement considering their very low starting points. Even so, the school is ambitious for more pupils to attain the higher levels and has already enjoyed some success this year. For example, a new scheme of work for mathematics is very practical and has a high level of challenge built into it, which has led to a good improvement in the number of pupils exceeding national expectations for their age. Pupils' excellent achievement is as a result of outstanding teaching, with lessons conducted at a brisk pace that involves pupils actively in their
learning. Much emphasis is placed on speaking and listening. This enables pupils learning English as an additional language to make rapid progress.
Pupils' personal development and well-being are outstanding as they have extremely positive attitudes to school and the curriculum is designed especially well to engage and interest them. Pupils take plenty of exercise through physical
education lessons and by keeping active at playtimes. They have an extremely good understanding of how to stay healthy and keep safe. They know all about the dangers of illegal drugs and alcohol abuse. Behaviour is good and is
managed very well by staff. Pupils are caring towards one another and undertake a wide variety of responsibilities around school, including as 'eco-warriors'. They make an extremely positive contribution to their local community and
further afield, taking a great interest in the massive regeneration project that is affecting their homes. Pupils become confident learners, well prepared for secondary school.
Outstanding leadership and management ensure that the school has continued to make considerable progress since its last inspection. The federation with another school in Hackney has given new leadership responsibilities to a wide range of staff, and this has enabled a very strong team of assistant headteachers to be developed. Monitoring of the school's work is rigorous and systematic, and a sophisticated database enables information to be stored and exchanged quickly and efficiently. The school benefits from the support of an outstanding governing body that brings a high level of expertise in discharging its duties. The school is a vibrant and successful learning community and has an outstanding capacity to improve further.
11th November, 2008 Dear Pupils, Thank you for making us so welcome at your school. Yours is an outstanding school and here are some of its particular strengths. + You make outstanding progress in your work to develop the skills you need in literacy and numeracy. + You have an excellent understanding of how to make healthy choices and keep safe. + You are very involved in supporting the life of the school and in getting to know pupils in other schools in this country and overseas. + Your lessons excite you and give you a love of learning. + The curriculum interests you and has been especially designed with you in mind. + You get extremely helpful feedback from your teachers about your work, and this means you know what to do next to improve. + The school cares for you particularly well. + The executive principal and the assistant headteachers lead and manage the school exceptionally well. You all do very well in your work, but we agree with the school that some of you can do even better. They are bringing in new ways of teaching you mathematics and writing to help you excel, and already this is beginning to have an impact. We are encouraging your teachers to continue this work so that more of you attain the higher levels in English, mathematics and science by the end of Year 6. Thank you once again for your help. Our very best wishes for the future. Yours sincerely, Mr N Butt Lead Inspector
