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4. In environmental studies, teachers should identify clearly what pupils are expected to learn and how their learning will be assessed.

The school had made good progress in addressing this recommendation.

Teachers had improved their forward plans for environmental studies. Their plans now contained more details about what pupils were to learn in the course of each topic they studied. Some forward plans were very detailed. Teachers had reviewed the school’s assessment policy and made appropriate adjustments. Each environmental studies topic now focused on the assessment of particular aspects of the knowledge or skills pupils were expected to acquire. After completion of each topic, teachers evaluated the quality of pupils’ experience.

5. More use should be made of assessment information for planning next steps in pupils’ learning and for monitoring the effectiveness of different approaches.

The school had made very good progress with this point for action.

Teachers’ forward plans now included detailed information about approaches to assessment in each area of the curriculum. They regularly used assessment information to evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching and to identify and plan next steps in pupils’ learning.

Overall, the school had made very good progress in addressing the points for action. As a result of this very good response, HM Inspectors will make no more visits to the school in connection with the 1999 report.