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What have been our successes this year?

2007 SAT results in KS2 were lower than in the previous year but performance at KS1 was very good and well above average.

Significant opportunities were developed for pupils to participate in creative areas. The Widening Opportunities Music programme ensured that all pupils in year 4 learned to play a brass instrument. A huge range of other musical and sporting clubs were available for pupils. Sports provision was recognised by the award of Activemark. All Key Stage 2 pupils were taught either French or German and their studies are being improved by video-conferencing and visits. Bricknell's work on ensuring pupils understand their place in the world was recognised by the International School Award. The school continued to be innovative in its use of ICT with the growing success of BPTV News and animation work. 

Staff continued to support the curriculum by organising visits and visitors. An excellent Africa week was supported by artists, dancers and musicians and helped pupils understand some of the issues facing Africa and the links to Hull and slavery.

We continue to develop the fabric of the building with a new entrance to improve security and reception facilities.

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What are we trying to improve?

Each year the school produces a school improvement plan based upon an analysis of the previous year's results, issues raised by parents, staff and Governors and Government and Local Authority priorities. Progress against this plan is measured termly and shared with Governors. Issues currently identified are:-

• Continue to develop pupil literacy skills through guided reading and writing
• Implement the Government's Revised Frameworks for Literacy and Numeracy 
• Develop a rich and stumulating curriculum which enables pupils to develop their thinking skills and independence 
• Ensure effective pupil involvement in all aspects of their education.
• Improve school access and security for all
• Extend opportunities for parents to be fully involved in all aspects of their child's education.

We continually strive to ensure pupils achieve the best possible standards and therefore have developed a number of intervention strategies to support pupils who are behind their peers and also to encouarge those who are gifted and talented.

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

Our school

Confidence interval

Pupils within the school generally achieve well and higher than the national average.

Each cohort, or year group, is different and will exhibit a different pattern.

The CVA measures progress from year 2 to year 6 and is based upon pupils' scores in KS1 which are weighted according to socio-economic factors.

CVA is a very narrow measure of success.

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How well do pupils achieve at age 11?

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How have our results changed over time?

The balance of each year's group of pupils is different in terms of age profile, gender profile and ability profile.  The school results trend identifies these factors with results fluctuating according to the cohort of pupils. The school continues to above national expectations in all areas and sometimes well above average. Pupils generally make good progress whilst at the school and will hopefully develop in all aspects of their education, not just those measured by tests.

The school sets challenging targets for performance each year which are moderated by the School Improvement Partner to ensure they are appropriate. Targets for 2007 were either achieved, or narrowly missed except for writing at KS2 which was below our expectations so we have put in place measures to improve this in 2008. 

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How are we making sure that every child gets teaching to meet their individual needs?

The class teacher has the greatest individual knowledge of pupils and their needs. All teaching is based upon a clear understanding of pupil strengths and areas for development. Lessons have clear objectives for pupil achievement with differentiated activities for pupils who need more support or need extension activities.

We ensure that lessons are interactive and enable pupils to participate effectively in them. The acquisition of whiteboards and a creative curriculum ensures that teaching caters for pupils of various learning styles.

Targets are set for pupil performance each year. These targets are determined in KS2 by discussion with pupils. Each child is fully aware of their targets and what they need to do to achieve them.

Whatever their needs the school strives hard to help all pupils to succeed.   The focus is on preventative work to ensure that pupils' needs are identified as soon as possible and early action is taken to meet those needs. These changes identify a graduated response to Special Educational Needs.

We also strive to challenge pupils who are gifted and talented providing a variety of opportunities for academic extension and creative or sporting development.

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How are we working with parents and the community?

We welcome parents into school as often as possible and ensure they are kept up to date through school newsletters and meetings. We worked with focus groups of parents in 2007 to revise school documentation to make it more user friendly.

Extra facilities include breakfast and out of school clubs. The school is regularly used by Adult Education and a wide range of other community groups use the school during the evenings or at weekends.

We have a productive and successful Parents' Association called the Friends of Bricknell Primary School who work year round to provide fun activities and raise funds for the school. Over the last two years £10,000 has been raised to develop outdoor play and digital media work. This is as a result of Christmas and Summer Fairs, quiz nights, cake fairs and other events. In addition the FBP run events such as the Talent Show where pupils get to perform in front of a large audience.

At Christmas we entertain local senior citizens with carol concerts.

The school regularly supports local and national charities. In 2006-7 funding was was raised to support Dove House, projects for the homeless, the British Legion and an African village.

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

Each class from year 3 to year 6 elects a representative to sit on the School Council. The Council meet regularly and debate issues about the school and feed back information on where they would like to see improvements.

We regularly ask pupils what they like about the school and what we could do better.

Following pupil input into the redevelopment of the playgrounds children informed us that some pupils found it difficult to make friends and socialise on the playground so the Bricknell Buddies were established. They help support pupils who do not have anything to do and play games with them.

Recently pupils have been involved in interviewing candidates for school and Local Authority appointments and decorating part of the school. 

The year 6 Leavers' Prom, which is organised by pupils who elect a committee, book entertainers, organise food and decorate the venue has now becaome an established tradition. 

Recently pupils have made suggestions on how we can improve the toilets and the library and we are planning changes to these areas based upon children's ideas.

Pupils are also using their ICT work to create a digital media prospectus for prospective pupils and parents.

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

The school curriculum ensures that pupils have a great deal of physical exercise. Our provision for PE has resulted in the award, and re-award, of the Sports Council's Activemark. In addition there are significant opportunities for exercise in the many sports activities available at lunchtime and after school. A significant amount of money has been spent developing playground facilities to ensure pupils have activities to occupy and engage them.

The curriculum is also used to promote the benefits of healthy eating and this is supported by playtime fruit, free healthy breakfast and nutritious school lunches.

In terms of pupil safety Governors work hard to ensure the site is safe and free from hazards. Security cameras ensure that any problems are monitored and dealt with. We work with the road safety department to provide pupils with pedestrian and cycle training. A new front entrance was fitted during summer 2007 which has improved access control to the building.

In Personal Social and Health Education we encourage pupils to reflect upon issues such as being a good friend, responsibility, respect and the damaging impact of bullying.

Science for older pupils deals with sex education and the effects of drugs and addiction. 

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How do our absence rates compare with other schools?

Attendance is above the local and national average and absence is therefore lower. At least 1% of absence is as a result of parents taking holidays in school time. 

Parents are very good at advising us why children are absent and most of the unathorised attendance is as a result of holidays taking more then 10 school days.

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What activities and options are available to pupils?

During the year we have been working to ensure the curriculum is broad and enjoyable. A significant number of visits outside school ensure that the curriculum is relevant and enjoyable. These include visits to local places of interest such as churches, parks and museums and vists further afield to Eden Camp, Beamish etc. We also bring visitors into school to support the curriculum. These include health experts, musicians, artists, actors and sports coaches.

A large number of extra-curricular events support the curriculum.

Over 60 pupils play musical instruments. Guitar, recorder and penny whistle groups are organised at lunchtimes and after school

Art, computer clubs, cookery, dance and drama groups help support creative areas.

A huge range of sports activities are organised. These include football, rugby, swimming, rounders, basketball, netball, cricket, hockey and gymnastics.

A residential outdoor pursuits weekend is organised each year where pupils in year 6 can participate in climbing, canoeing, abseiling, pony trekking and orienteering. In 2006 40 pupils took part in a 3 day visit to France.This is being repeated in 2008.

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What do our pupils do after leaving this school?

The vast majority of pupils transfer at 11 to Kelvin Hall High School.  All pupils living in the Bricknell catchment area should normally be allocated places at Kelvin Hall.

In September 2007  there were 83 pupils who left Bricknell:-

67 went to Kelvin

6 to Newland High School for Girls

2 to St Mary's College

2 to Sydney Smith

5 went to the East Riding 

1 was home educated.

In seeking to promote pupils' commitment to further education we are involved in the Wyke Learning Transitions Partnership. This means we work with Kelvin, Newland, Wyke 6th Form Colege and Hull University on a variety of events each year. Pupils get the chance to work with older pupils and on other sites and hopefully see further and lifelong education as the norm. 

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Ofsted's view of our school

Bricknell is an outstanding school that provides its pupils with a wealth of opportunities to stimulate their curiosity and underpin their excellent personal development. The quality of care, guidance and support is excellent. Pupils are expected to do as well as they can in their academic work; they enjoy school and learn in a well-disciplined and well-organised environment, brought about by outstanding leadership and highly motivated staff. The quality of education is exemplified by the breadth and creativity of the excellent curriculum, its international dimension and wide range of extra-curricular activities. Parents’ confidence in the school to provide a well rounded, exciting and relevant education for their children is well founded.
Children settle in quickly when they join Reception. They have plentiful opportunities to develop their independence and social and communication skills. The school focuses effectively on developing these crucial skills at this early stage. By the end of the Reception year, the children reach standards above those expected for their age in all areas of learning.
From their average starting points when they start school, pupils make excellent progress throughout the school and their achievement is outstanding. Standards are consistently well above average in each key stage, as shown by the results of national assessments and tests. Pupils of higher ability are challenged and high proportions exceed the standards expected for their age in each key stage. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities also make very rapid progress, often exceeding the targets set for them in their individual education plans. The school analyses pupils’ progress rigorously and takes action to improve it when needed. Since the previous inspection, the standard of pupils’ writing has improved dramatically and is now higher than in reading and mathematics. The school is now raising standards of reading and mathematics even further by encouraging pupils to think more deeply, to use their reading skills to the full, and to apply their investigative and problem-solving abilities in mathematics.
The teaching is excellent and pupils respond accordingly in lessons. Pupils make effective oral contributions to lessons; as one older pupil said, ‘I look forward to lessons because my teacher makes sure that we all get a chance to say something …’ The school safeguards pupils properly through implementation of its policies and procedures. Staff successfully encourage pupils to adopt healthy habits and to know what it means to be a good citizen. Pupils’ behaviour is excellent in lessons and about the school; they are considerate and sensitive towards the feelings of others. By the time they leave the school, pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education.
Leadership and management are excellent. The senior staff have established a welcoming and productive learning environment, which makes every pupil feel important and valued, despite the school’s large size. Teachers and other members of staff are vigilant; they have a high profile about the school at all times so that pupils feel safe and secure.
Management structures and teachers’ responsibilities are clearly defined and pupils and parents know who to approach if they have any concerns. Staff and governors demonstrate a corporate will to maintain the current momentum. The school’s evaluation of its effectiveness is accurate and identifies clearly and precisely what it can adjust and improve. The school, therefore, has an excellent capacity for further improvement.

Date of last inspection: 05-Jul-2007

Ofsted graded our school as outstanding

Inspectors made judgements on a scale: outstanding (grade 1); good (2); satisfactory (3); inadequate (4).

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What have we done in response to Ofsted?

The Ofsted Inspection of July 2007 did not identify any issues to be addressed. The Inspector felt that the issues for the school were already identified in the School Improvement Plan.

We revised this plan in summer 2007 taking into account the Inspection comments, the test results of summer 2007 and issues raised by other members of the school community.

Issues identified are detailed in the section above - 'What are we tring to improve.'

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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: 01482 493208

Our website: http://www.bricknellschool.co.uk

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