Shears Green Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The school has a positive atmosphere where pupils get on very well together. They thoroughly enjoy learning.

Lessons and a wide range of extra-curricular activities promote their creativity and curiosity well. The school has improved well since its last inspection, and progress has been particularly rapid under the leadership of the new headteacher. The school checks its performance rigorously.

The strategies introduced over the last year have improved the quality of teaching and led to a rapid increase in pupils' achievement. Pupils make good progress because of consistently good teaching, so that their attainment in English and mathema...tics by the end of Year 6 is above average. This prepares them well for secondary school.

Pupils learn well from the active, practical tasks which capture their interest and enthusiasm. Teachers make sure that activities have an everyday relevance which helps pupils' understanding. Pupils' attendance has improved and is above average.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : While the curriculum topics motivate pupils and develop their literacy and information technology skills well, there is not enough emphasis on developing skills that are specific to different subjects, particularly in geography and history. Pupils who have special educational needs make good progress but it is not yet as rapid as that of other pupils. This is because the tasks that are planned for them in lessons do not always meet their needs as precisely as they should.

Information about this school

Shears Green Junior School is larger than most primary and junior schools. The proportion of pupils eligible for support through the pupil premium (additional funding made available by the government) has risen in recent years and is in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils who are from ethic minority backgrounds is in line with schools nationally, as is the proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs is well above the national average. Around a tenth of pupils are supported at school action plus or have a statement of special educational needs, which is above average. The school meets the government's current floor standard which sets the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The school has a breakfast club attended by around 20 pupils daily and about 60 pupils over the course of the week. After-school care is provided at the adjacent infant school and does not form part of this inspection. Since the last inspection, a new headteacher took up her post in September 2011 and the two other senior leaders joined the school in September 2012.