Bishop’s Waltham Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders, managers and governors have an accurate view of the school's strengths and weaknesses. Their work is improving both the quality of teaching and the progress made by pupils.

Good teaching inspires pupils to learn well and ensures that time is used effectively. The new leadership of provision for pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is developing well. Leaders recognise that there is a need to identify more quickly the barriers to learning faced by these pupils.

Governors work closely with senior leaders to ensure that the school has an accurate and effective system in place to track the progress of pupils.... Since the last inspection, standards have risen and pupils make good progress. In 2016, the proportion of pupils that reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics was above the national average.

A high proportion of pupils currently across the school are on track to meet age-related expectations by the end of the year. Pupils currently make particularly good progress in mathematics. Teachers value the training and support they have received to help them to become good practitioners.

They do not make enough use of each other's expertise to share and disseminate best practice across the school. The range of extra-curricular activities enhances the curriculum particularly well. Together they make a strong contribution to pupils' academic progress and their personal development and welfare.

Pupils are very well behaved. Their social and moral development is particularly strong. Pupils care for each other and are respectful.

Governors and senior leaders recognise that they would benefit from additional training about the revised published data regarding outcomes for pupils by the end of key stage 2. Leaders and managers monitor the quality of teaching and learning regularly but do not focus enough on the progress made by the most able pupils, the most able disadvantaged and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. The most able pupils, including the most able disadvantaged pupils, are not always challenged sufficiently in lessons, particularly with their written work.

Only a minority of these pupils are working at greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The vast majority of pupils are White British.

The proportion of pupils who attract pupil premium funding is lower than average. A higher proportion than in most schools have been identified as having special educational needs and/or disabilities. A comparatively low proportion of pupils have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan.

The school has restructured and expanded its senior leadership team. Since the previous inspection more than half of the governing body, including the chair and vice-chair, are new. The school has its own swimming pool.

Local schools make use of this facility. It is also open to the general public outside of school hours. The school provides a breakfast club.

The after-school care run by an external provider was not included as part of this inspection. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The school meets the current government floor standard for 2016.

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