Thomas Jolyffe Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The school's effectiveness took a downturn following its section 5 inspection in 2013.

Over the last two years, the headteacher, together with the deputy headteacher and other leaders and governors, has worked with drive and determination to reverse the decline and raise standards. This has led to significant improvements. As a result of high expectations and regular professional development for all teachers, the quality of teaching has improved and is consistently good.

Governance has also improved and is securely good. Governors know the school well, visit regularly and hold leaders to account through regular meetings. Teaching is chara...cterised by well-planned sequences of learning, good questioning and teachers who have good subject knowledge.

The teaching of mathematics has improved and is now effective. However, pupils do not have enough opportunities to use their knowledge and skills. Their ability to reason and explain is not well developed.

As a result of better teaching, the proportion of pupils working at greater depth is improving across the school. Safeguarding is highly effective. Leaders, staff and governors are well trained and vigilant.

The well-being of pupils is at the heart of the school. All staff are skilled at promoting pupils' personal development, behaviour and welfare. Nurture provision is of the highest quality.

As a result, the number of exclusions has fallen substantially. The exciting curriculum is appropriately broad and balanced and well planned. Pupils make better progress now.

Occasionally, expectations are not high enough and pupils are not moved onto more challenging work quickly enough. This slows their progress. From their starting points, children make good progress in the Reception classes.

Good teaching, strong leadership and high-quality provision mean that children are well prepared for Year 1. Pupils conduct themselves well. They are respectful and courteous.

Relationships are positive across the school. Pupils' attendance has improved and is now broadly in line with national averages. However, leaders know that the attendance of disadvantaged pupils is not yet high enough.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized primary school. The early years foundation stage consists of two full-time reception classes. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium funding is below the national average.

There are fewer pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds than seen nationally and the proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is lower than the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is lower than that found in most primary schools. However, more pupils have an education, health and care plan than is found nationally.

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