Malorees Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Malorees Junior School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love coming to this school.

They are happy and feel safe. They said that every day they look forward to working and playing with their friends. Pupils explained that one of the things they loved most about their school is the opportunity to learn outdoors across different subjects.

Pupils achieve well across the curriculum, including in reading.

Leaders and staff have high expectations of pupils. Pupils behave well in and out of lessons.

They are polite, courteous, and respectful towards adults and their peers. Although rare, when bullying occurs, staff dea...l with it promptly.

Pupils feel safe at school.

They said that this is because they have trusted adults around them to listen to them and to help them if they have any concerns or worries. There are also therapists available on site to support pupils' mental and emotional health and well-being.

Leaders provide many ways for pupils to develop as leaders.

Older pupils relish the many opportunities available to take on positions of responsibility. They enjoy buddying up with younger pupils or helping the staff in the school office to carry out tasks, such as delivering uniform orders to classes. They experience democracy first hand as they elect their school council representatives.

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

Leaders have reviewed and crafted a curriculum that is ambitious and well sequenced. They have given careful consideration to exactly what pupils need to know and remember. This has been logically organised so that pupils return to and practise important ideas.

For example, in physical education (PE), pupils practise and apply knowledge and skills in a broad range of physical activities. As a result, they progress well through the curriculum, mastering physical movements with increasing competence and precision. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

In most subjects, teachers check what pupils already know and can do. They use this information to support pupils with further learning. In a few subjects, however, teachers have not ensured that pupils have the essential knowledge required to enable them to complete assigned tasks successfully.

For example, in mathematics, some pupils had difficulty solving calculation problems as they had not yet secured the knowledge required to do so.

Pupils across the school show genuine excitement when reading and being read to. This is because leaders prioritise this aspect of pupils' learning.

As soon as pupils join the school, teachers check their phonics knowledge. Those at the early stages of reading receive well-targeted teaching through the school's phonics programme. Pupils practise reading using books which are closely matched to the sounds that they already know.

Those who are falling behind in phonics are identified and supported immediately. As a result, they catch up quickly. This ensures that pupils read with increasing accuracy, fluency and confidence.

Leaders identify pupils with SEND at the earliest opportunity. Teachers use this information to ensure these pupils' needs are met. Pupils with SEND are well supported to access a broad and ambitious curriculum.

Behaviour is positive and disruptions to lessons are rare. Pupils participate actively in discussions. They listen intently to instructions and engage well in the tasks that they are set.

Pupils are respectful towards each other and adults.

Leaders create opportunities for pupils to develop more broadly beyond the academic curriculum. For example, pupils are taught how to keep themselves fit and healthy.

They participate in a daily mile run around the school grounds. Leaders ensure that every pupil gets to compete in a sports event outside school, at least once every year. Pupils are proud that they win many of these events.

Staff appreciate that leaders are approachable. They know that they are going to be listened to when they ask for support in terms of their workload. Staff said this school is a happy place to work.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff are alert for signs which might indicate that a pupil is at risk of neglect, abuse or exploitation. They are clear about how to report and record any safeguarding concerns.

Leaders work well with external agencies to secure the best possible outcomes for pupils and their families. Checks on the suitability of staff are rigorous.

Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe at home, at school, or when online.

For example, they understand the importance of checking the age suitability of mobile apps or games. Pupils know the importance of seeking guidance from adults if they are unsure.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few subjects, teachers do not check that pupils have acquired the essential knowledge that they need to understand new concepts.

This means that some pupils struggle when they are taught these ideas. Leaders should ensure that teachers routinely check that pupils have secured the component knowledge they need to have mastered before moving them on to new learning.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in May 2017.

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