Locks Heath Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils embody the school's core value of respect at this caring and inclusive school. They demonstrate this through the warm and genuine relationships they form with each other and with staff.

This helps pupils to feel safe and happy. Pupils have trusted adults who they know will help them with any concerns they may have. All staff have high expectations of pupils and apply the school's rules consistently.

As a result, pupils behave well.

The school is ambitious for its pupils and they achieve well. Pupils understand the school's learning values, which include things like 'perseverance and curiosity'.

Pupils say that these values help them to work ha...rd. Pupils are well prepared for their next step.

The school prioritises pupils' mental health and well-being.

Skilled pastoral staff work with pupils to develop a range of strategies to manage their emotions. This includes therapeutic support and carefully considered daily check-ins. Pupils share how they feel confidently and use the strategies they learn consistently well.

The school has designed a range of additional activities for the most vulnerable pupils. This includes the daily 'sunshine club' that helps these pupils to become increasingly resilient and independent.

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

The school has designed an aspirational curriculum to meet the needs of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Staff have identified what pupils need to learn precisely. This is particularly strong in English and mathematics. In these subjects, pupils recall their prior learning and apply it accurately.

Pupils become confident writers. Pupils have sound mathematical knowledge and recall key facts fluently.

In many subjects, teachers use a range of checks to identify gaps in learning accurately.

This helps them to use activities to help pupils catch up. Teachers address misconceptions quickly. However, in some subjects, teachers' checks are not as precise.

Teachers do not identify gaps in learning well enough. As a result, some pupils do not learn the important skills and knowledge they need in these subjects.

Pupils enjoy reading.

They become fluent readers and read widely. Pupils read high-quality books that match their phonics knowledge accurately. Staff are expert in delivering the chosen phonics scheme.

This helps pupils in the early stages of reading to become confident readers swiftly. Teachers identify pupils who fall behind and plan effective support that helps pupils to catch up quickly.

Teachers select tasks that help pupils to recall their prior learning and build on it over time.

However, in a small number of subjects, teachers' subject knowledge is not secure enough. This means that staff sometimes do not explain learning with sufficient clarity. As a result, pupils do not learn some of the subject content that they should.

The school knows its pupils well. Staff recognise pupils' barriers to learning and adapt their teaching to help them to achieve well. The school has high ambitions for all pupils and ensures that all pupils receive the support they need.

Disadvantaged pupils do well because expectations of what they can achieve are high.

Pupils enjoy learning. They listen to their teachers carefully and share their ideas confidently.

The school is happy and purposeful. The school has prioritised attendance. Pupils know that frequent attendance will help them to achieve well.

Staff track pupil absence carefully and identify pupils who require additional support quickly. As a result, these pupils attend more frequently and their attendance has improved significantly.

The school provides the dedicated team of teachers and support staff with high-quality training and support.

Staff are very proud of their work. Governors share the school's high ambition and offer appropriate guidance and support.Pupils take full advantage of the broad enrichment offer that the school provides.

They take great pride in the various leadership roles they hold. Pupils learn about a range of cultures and beliefs. Pupils are taught about and celebrate what makes people different from each other.

Older pupils work towards the school's 'Civic Award' and become active members of the school and local community.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some wider curriculum subjects, teachers' use of assessment does not identify what pupils know accurately enough.

As a result, teachers do not identify and then close gaps in pupils' learning. The school should ensure that assessment supports teachers in identifying and closing gaps in pupils' learning. ? In a few subjects, teachers' subject knowledge is not secure enough.

Consequently, sometimes they do not always explain subject content clearly. As a result, some pupils do not learn as well as they could. The school must ensure that it develops the expertise of teachers in these subjects.

Also at this postcode