Avenue Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders and governors have taken proactive and effective action since the last inspection to rapidly improve the quality of education, particularly in mathematics. Leaders have put in place and implemented a high-quality programme of professional development and support for teachers.

This has ensured that the approach to teaching mathematics is fully embedded and successful. Leaders have developed a broad curriculum. The arts are highly emphasised, and all pupils receive specialist music tuition.

Most also learn to play an instrument. Pupils take part in many cultural activities which enhance their life experiences. Teachers successfully ...enthuse pupils about the topics they are studying in subjects such as history and geography and are beginning to make sure that pupils can apply their knowledge and wide vocabulary in different contexts.

Pupils behave well. They work together in class, particularly in mathematics, discussing ideas and supporting each other to reason about problems. Disadvantaged pupils have previously had attainment and progress well below those of other pupils.

Leaders have provided effective support that has resulted in the gap in their attainment diminishing. Good support from the pastoral team and school leaders for families and pupils has resulted in attendance rising. In some classes, where the sequence of teaching writing is strong, pupils make good progress.

In other classes, where teaching is not as effective, progress is slower. Pupils' handwriting and presentation are often of mixed quality. Some teachers do not have high enough expectations of how work should be presented or model this to their classes.

Information about this school

The school is larger than average for this phase of education. An externally run and separately registered provider, Peapod Pre-School, runs a nursery school in part of the school building, which is accessed separately. An externally run and separately registered provider, Avenue Out of School Club, provides a breakfast club and after-school care in the school buildings.

The school has its own small breakfast club for targeted individuals, to support good attendance and a good start to the school day. The school is a hub 'School of Sanctuary' for local schools involved in the scheme. The school holds the gold Artsmark from the Arts Council for its provision in the arts.

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