Holton-le-Clay Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school School leaders' plans for improvement and their decisive actions have provided a clear direction for the school. The quality of teaching and learning across the school is good. Leaders' insistence on good-quality teaching has improved outcomes for pupils.

Governors have a good understanding of the work of the school. They provide appropriate levels of challenge and support to senior leaders. Relationships between adults and pupils are friendly and respectful.

Pupils are confident and enthusiastic learners. They have good attitudes to learning and get on well together. The school curriculum inspires pupils to learn.

It contributes... well to their personal development and their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. They are polite and considerate of others.

The school is a caring and calm place to learn. Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Leaders ensure that pupils have a good understanding of matters in the wider world, and that they are also aware of issues in their local community.

Teachers plan activities that interest and engage pupils and help them to learn. Nevertheless, there are times when teachers do not provide sufficiently challenging work to ensure that the most able pupils achieve their best. Teachers set high expectations for the quality of pupils' writing.

However, they do not give pupils enough opportunities to write in depth so that they can apply their skills and deepen their understanding. Governors have not checked that the funding for pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities is used well in order to ensure that these pupils make good progress.

Information about this school

Holton-le-Clay Junior School is smaller than the average-sized primary school.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is below the national average. The proportions of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds, and of pupils who speak English as an additional language, are below those seen nationally. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is above the national average.

The school receives support from the local authority. The school is federated with Holton-le-Clay Infant School to form the Holton-le-Clay Schools Federation. The governing body is the governing body for the Holton-le-Clay Schools Federation.

Three governors have recently joined the governing body. Four new teachers have recently been appointed to the school. A new deputy headteacher has strengthened the senior leadership team.