Bedonwell Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. In recent years pupils have attained above-average levels in English and mathematics by the age of 11 because of good teaching. Rigorous teacher assessment shows that increasing proportions of pupils are now making faster progress in all years and are achieving better scores than were attained in 2012.

Teaching over time is good because most activities are carefully planned to meet pupils' needs. Their work is very carefully marked, and teachers give very precise suggestions for improvement. Governors are well informed and are prepared to challenge as well as support school leaders.

The headteacher and his leadership team understand what... needs to be done to further improve the school. Their priorities include raising the numbers of pupils achieving the higher levels at the end of Key Stage 2. Pupils speak very positively about their school, behave well and have a very clear sense of right and wrong.

Leaders promote pupils' involvement in reflections upon behaviour and as a result they are keen to treat adults and each other with respect. The curriculum offers carefully planned links between literacy and other subjects. As a result pupils read purposefully across a range of topics and write well-structured responses in science and humanities as well as English lessons.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not yet outstanding because : pupils who are capable of making faster progress are not always set hard enough work or asked questions that make them think deeply about topics. Marking is very thorough but pupils sometimes over-rely on teachers' suggestions for improvement rather than being given consistent opportunities to plan their own next steps, hindering their progress. While senior leaders check the impact of teaching on pupils' progress very carefully, the middle leaders are not yet fully involved in this process and as a result some inconsistencies in teaching remain.

Information about this school

Bedonwell Junior School is four-form entry and larger than the average-sized junior school. The proportion of pupils eligible for support from the pupil premium (extra money provided by the government for pupils in the care of the local authority, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those from service families) is below the national average. There are currently no pupils from service families.

. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage. Pupils with African, Indian and any other Asian heritage are the next largest groups and the proportion of pupils from minority ethnic heritages is now above the national average.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is in line with the national average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported at school action is very slightly above the national average. The proportion of pupils supported through a statement of special educational needs or school action plus is slightly below the national average.

The school meets the current floor standards, which are the minimum standards for attainment and progress expected by the government. The school has experienced changes to the leadership team. The deputy headteacher and an assistant headteacher who leads on literacy have been appointed as senior leaders and a new year head team of middle leaders has taken up post since the previous inspection.

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