Hempstead Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Pupils achieve well.

Increasing proportions of older pupils are making rapid progress and reaching higher standards in mathematics and English by the end of Year 6 than in the past. Teaching over time is good because most activities are carefully planned to meet pupils' needs. Their work is thoroughly marked and teachers give helpful suggestions for improvement.

Where teaching is best, staff make rapid adjustments to tasks when pupil responses show that this is necessary. Governors are well informed and understand how well the school is doing. They are prepared to challenge as well as to support school leaders.

The newly appointe...d headteacher understands what needs to be done to improve the school further. Staff and governors share her vision and ambition. Pupils speak very positively about their school, behave well and treat adults and each other with great courtesy.

Provision in the school for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is strong. Leaders, including governors, have successfully maintained the good quality of teaching leading to achievement, since the previous inspection. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not yet outstanding.

Pupils are not always asked questions that make them think deeply about topics and, as a result, some do not make the progress that they are capable of. Teachers do not always use opportunities in different subjects, including science, for pupils to develop good writing skills. Pupils do not have enough opportunities to respond at length to teachers' marking or to assess their own work.

Pupils are not fully involved in checking their own progress because the purpose of the tasks they are set is not clearly linked clearly to their target grades.

Information about this school

The school is 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 including those eligible for free school meals, children in public care and from service families) is below the national average.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is well below the national average. The vast majority of pupils are of White British heritage, with small groups having Other White or mixed heritages. The proportion of pupils speaking English as an additional language is much lower than the national average.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported at school action is slightly below the national average. The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also slightly below the national average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The school is not currently in receipt of the additional government sports funding. The school has, since the previous inspection, experienced two periods of interim headship, with the new headteacher taking up her post at the beginning of this term. There has also been a new appointment to the literacy leadership role.