South Stanley Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The high ambition and drive of the headteacher has transformed the school since the previous inspection. Underperformance has been eradicated.

As a result, all pupils achieve well. Teaching is good and, at times, inspiring and imaginative. Staff set high expectations which they expect all pupils to meet.

Individual pupils with special educational needs and those who are potentially vulnerable make rapid progress in developing their skills. Behaviour in classrooms and at social times is good and, sometimes, exemplary. Pupils are very keen and eager to work hard and do well.

The strong promotion of spiritual, moral, social and cul...tural development underpins their whole-hearted attitudes to learning. The warm, friendly, nurturing atmosphere reflects the high quality of care and support the school provides for pupils. The thought-provoking curriculum makes a positive contribution to the pupils' much improved achievement and their first-rate personal development.

Pupils feel safe and well cared for in school. They get on exceptionally well with each other because : they treat each other with tolerance and respect. Their much improved attendance helps to support their learning well.

Pupils are courteous, happy and friendly. They enjoy school life and take great pride in their achievements. The school has highly successful strategies for engaging and including parents in their children's development and well-being.

Strong governance is robust in its challenge to leaders and managers. Consequently, they have an accurate grasp of the school's performance, including the quality of teaching and pupils' achievement. They have a clear view of just how successful the school can be.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching does not produce a consistent pattern of rapid progress and high achievement. Now and then, opportunities are missed for pupils to practise their skills, such as spelling, and to check precisely the improvements made and what more needs to be improved in their work.

Information about this school

South Stanley is a smaller than average sized junior school.

Almost all of the pupils are of White British backgrounds. Very few pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils supported through school action is below average.

The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is much higher than average. Currently, there is a well above average proportion of disadvantaged pupils supported by the pupil premium funding. The pupil premium is funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those children who are looked after by the local authority.

The school provides a breakfast each day available to all pupils. The school meets the government's current floor standards which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. Since the previous inspection, the middle leadership team has been replaced.

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