Bushey Manor Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils and staff are proud to be part of this aspirational school community.

Pupils feel safe and well cared for by staff. They told inspectors, 'The school is like a second family for us all.'

Pupils are keen to learn.

They have positive relationships with staff, who help them achieve their best. Pupils respond well to the high expectations that staff have for them. They strive to achieve the school's values of being aspirational, respectful and kind.

During whole-school assemblies, pupils enjoy celebrating the success of others who show these values.

Pupils are polite and respectful to everyone, and they work hard in their lessons. There ...is a calm and orderly atmosphere throughout the school.

Bullying is rare. If there is any unkindness between pupils, staff deal with it quickly and effectively.

Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school.

They value the care and attention that their children receive. One parent, who represented the views of many, said, 'Bushey Manor is a fantastic place for children to thrive. My child is happy, keen and has developed into a life-long learner.'



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

Leaders have ensured that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), have access to a rich curriculum. For most subjects, leaders have identified the knowledge that pupils should learn. They have considered the order in which pupils should learn it so that it builds on what pupils already know.

Subject leaders have made links between key knowledge across different subjects. This helps pupils to make connections and remember more. Teachers adapt activities and resources for pupils with SEND as appropriate so that those pupils are able to participate successfully in the same lessons as their peers.

Teachers have good subject knowledge, and they present information well. They are good at noticing when pupils have misconceptions or are not learning as well as they could. When this happens, teachers adapt their teaching to support pupils.

This means pupils achieve well across many subjects.

In a small number of subjects, leaders have not broken down the key knowledge that pupils need to learn into small chunks. This means that, in some subjects, pupils find it harder to learn what leaders intend.

It also means that teachers are less able to identify precisely what the pupils have learned or what they need to revisit in order for pupils to learn as well as they might.

Reading is a priority. Leaders have set up a strong culture through which they foster pupils' love of reading.

Teachers support pupils who are falling behind with reading to make rapid progress. Pupils say they enjoy reading and are proud of their new library.

The quality of pastoral care is a strength at this school.

Leaders provide pupils with tools to support their 'five ways to well-being'. Pupils receive support from a local charity to teach them about ways to look after their mental health. They enjoy learning about how to take care of themselves.

There are several opportunities for pupils to learn beyond the national curriculum. Each year group, for example, enjoys a residential trip. This helps pupils to develop team building skills, their ability to cope when things do not work out as planned, and the confidence to try new things.

Pupils learn to respect those who have different lifestyles to their own. Teachers make sure that there is a diverse range of texts in school so that all pupils can enjoy reading and feel represented in the stories that they read.

Leaders lead with a strong moral purpose and are outward-looking.

They collaborate with stakeholders well and set high expectations of pupils and staff. This leadership underpins the school's strengths. Staff appreciate the support that leaders give them.

They say that leaders and governors consider their professional development and their workload.

Governors bring a wide range of skills and abilities to their roles. They have an accurate understanding of the strengths in the school and of what needs to improve.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders are aware of potential local safeguarding risks. They provide staff with regular training so that they know how to keep pupils safe.

Leaders update staff about local and national safeguarding trends and information. Staff report and respond to safeguarding concerns quickly. Leaders engage external agencies to support pupils when needed.

Leaders ensure that the curriculum supports pupils to know how to stay safe. This includes being safe when online. Pupils know there is someone to talk to if they have a worry or a concern.

Governors provide effective oversight of safeguarding procedures, including the procedures for safely recruiting staff.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a small number of subjects, leaders have not broken knowledge down into manageable chunks. This makes it harder for pupils to learn new concepts.

Because of this, pupils' knowledge is not as well developed as it could be in those subjects. In these subjects, teachers are not always able to check how well pupils are learning new knowledge. Leaders should identify the precise knowledge teachers need to teach in all curriculum areas so that pupils learn and remember more, and so that teachers have a clear understanding of what they need to ensure pupils have learned.