St Joseph’s Catholic Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. All groups of pupils achieve well.

Attainment is rising across the school in reading, writing and mathematics as pupils are making faster progress. Teaching is typically good. Pupils enjoy learning activities that are carefully planned and interesting.

The behaviour and safety of pupils are outstanding. Their enthusiasm, initiative and keen participation make a strong contribution to their progress in lessons. They are very aware of how to keep safe.

Pupils are extremely polite and respectful. They take on meaningful responsibilities and are well rewarded for their efforts. They enjoy coming to school and attendance is consisten...tly high.

Teamwork is a strength. Staff are united in their determination to ensure pupils achieve their full potential. The quality of teaching is regularly kept under review so that staff, including those new to teaching profession, develop their teaching skills well.

Reading is taught well so that pupils quickly become fluent readers and develop a love of books. Leadership and management are good. The very dedicated headteacher, supported by the effective leadership and management team and governors, has been successful in improving the quality of teaching and pupils' achievement.

Pupils have memorable experiences, including those in art, music and sporting activities which contribute strongly to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not yet typically outstanding throughout the school. Tasks and activities do not always stretch pupils to achieve to the very best of their abilities, especially the most able.

Teachers do not always clarify, through their marking, what pupils must do to improve their work. Pupils are not consistently given time to respond to their advice. Middle leaders are not yet fully effective in checking the quality of teaching in the subjects they are responsible for across the school.

Information about this school

St Joseph's Catholic Junior School is an average-sized primary school. The majority of pupils come from a minority ethnic group and approximately half of the pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportions of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action are above the national average.

The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also above the national average. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is well above the national average. The pupil premium is additional funding given to schools for children in specific groups including those in care and those known to be eligible for free school meals.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 6 in English and mathematics. The current headteacher was appointed in September 2012 following a period of instability within the leadership of the school. The school works closely with the feeder infant school and local Catholic secondary school.

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