Brushwood Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive in this school.

They greatly appreciate the phenomenal education they receive, and levels of attendance and punctuality are high. The school has the highest expectations for pupils in every aspect of school life. Pupils achieve very well because they learn from expert staff who teach with clarity and precision.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They build incredibly positive relationships with one another and with staff. Pupils talk with such enthusiasm about school life.

Classrooms are abuzz with industrious learning. Pupils broaden their horizons and develop their character during their time at this school. They work with tenacity and resilience... and are proud to 'flearn', stating that they cannot learn if they do not fail first.

Leaders provide pupils with rich experiences to support not only curriculum learning but also widen their life skills, such as learning to speak Slovakian and to cook. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) participate fully in school life. All pupils thrill in the range of activities available to develop their interests, including extracurricular activities, music tuition and sporting events.

Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school. One parent, summing up the views of many, said, 'Pupils are nurtured and given the skills and knowledge they need to grow and learn.'

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has a culture of aspiration and continual improvement based on the very highest expectations for all.

The school and governing body work together strategically to ensure their vision is realised in every aspect of their work. The dedicated staff collectively share leaders' commitment to excellence. Staff are exceptionally well trained and their enthusiasm for learning is infectious.

The school has built an extremely rich and ambitious curriculum. Subject leadership is strong, and the curriculum is well established. Subject content is ordered in a way that enables pupils to recall and build on previous knowledge.

Assessment is used judiciously to track pupils' progress. Pupils' individual needs are identified swiftly, and highly effective support is put into place to ensure every moment of learning is maximised.

There is a relentless focus on reading.

The library and books within are prized. Pupils access engaging and diverse texts, including Shakespeare's Macbeth. This encourages pupils to acquire a deep and enduring love for books.

Pupils who find reading difficult are identified and supported well. Staff, expert in delivering catch-up programmes, ensure pupils quickly become confident and fluent readers. As a result, pupils achieve highly and can read texts confidently.

Teachers present information clearly. They are skilled in spotting when pupils might need help to understand or link concepts to prior learning. Activities are planned well to build on prior learning across the curriculum and motivate pupils to achieve their best.

The curriculum utilises the school's grounds to provide pupils with purposeful outdoor learning experiences. Daily recap tasks ensure previously learned skills are secured in long-term memory. Pupils with SEND are provided with expert help during lessons, receiving the same ambitious offer as their peers.

The school's personal development programme is exceptional. Thoughtful pastoral support is highly effective. Pupils benefit from an excellent array of well-considered trips and experiences such as visits to Hazard Alley and the Ashmolean Museum, building on their learning across the curriculum.

Opportunities such as 'Junior Dukes' provide pupils to learn important character skills such as independence and resilience. Pupils are highly appreciative of the school's 'Friday enrichment' programme that provides meaningful opportunities to build on these talents and interests.

Leaders emphasise pupils' moral development through establishing clear routines and expectations.

A culture of mutual respect can be seen in the highly positive relationships between every member of the school community. They recognise that although everyone should be treated equally, some pupils may require additional support at times. Pupils enjoy opportunities to debate wider issues such as homelessness.

They develop a secure understanding of democracy, able to contrast those countries that do not adopt democratic systems. As a result, pupils acquire a mature understanding of equality, diversity and fundamental British values.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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