Michael Drayton Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Michael Drayton Junior School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

At Michael Drayton Junior School pupils receive a well-rounded education. The curriculum prepares them well for secondary school and life beyond school.

In this large school, pupils are well looked after. Leaders and staff create the conditions for pupils to become independent and responsible. Parents and carers are positive about the school.

They particularly like the fact that staff encourage pupils to 'do their best whilst not feeling pressured'.

Pupils take part in a range of trips and visits that are part of the curriculum. Every day there are lots of extra-cur...ricular activities for pupils to choose from, and almost all pupils make the most of them.

These range from music groups to horse riding and sailing. In the 'wildlife area', pupils grow fruit and vegetables. They also care for chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs.

Pupils told me that bullying is not an issue in the school. Staff and parents said the same. Pupils told me that they know who to talk to if bullying does occur.

Pupils act responsibly and play their part in making sure that bullying does not happen.

Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. They trust and respect staff.

Teachers encourage pupils to collaborate and help each other in lessons. Routines are well established. The school has a pleasant and friendly atmosphere.

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

Leaders' aim is to 'develop the whole child'. The curriculum they have designed is broad. Pupils study a wide range of subjects in depth.

For each subject, teachers plan varied learning activities. They make sure that pupils understand the relevance of what they learn. For example, in history, they learn about how events of the past have shaped their present life.

They visit places of interest, such as 'Tudor World' in Stratford-upon-Avon. In mathematics, teachers introduce new topics with practical activities to capture their imagination. Teachers deliberately revisit topics that pupils have studied before.

This helps pupils to remember what they have learned previously. They then use this to help them learn new knowledge and apply their skills.

Leaders know that over the past two years some pupils have not made as much progress in reading as they could have done.

They are implementing new ways of improving reading skills. Teachers do a rigorous assessment of pupils' reading abilities when they start in Year 3. Pupils who need it get extra phonics lessons to help them catch up.

Members of staff have received training to make sure that these lessons are successful. Teachers are developing new ways of teaching reading comprehension in all year groups. All classes have 'drop everything and read' sessions each week.

Pupils in each year group take part in a competition to read and understand up to 50 books. Pupils are keen to see their names on the reading competition display board. These new strategies are starting to work but because they are so new, they are not embedded yet.

Leaders make sure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) follow the full curriculum. Teachers and support staff work together to adapt learning activities. They plan appropriate interventions so that pupils with SEND get the same opportunities as others.

Pupils and parents value the breadth of experiences the school provides. Pupils told me how much they enjoy the wildlife area. The trip to France in Year 5 is very popular.

A highlight of this year will be the school choir performing in Wembley in March. The school has 10 active 'pupil groups'. They are a key feature of the school life.

They contribute to reading, playground safety, eco-school, online safety, and community cohesion. Pupils learn to understand and respect others' faiths and beliefs. They have philosophy lessons where they learn to develop their critical thinking.

Leaders want to improve pupils' transition from Year 2 to Year 3. They are keen to provide a successful start for all pupils when they join the school. They are working with some of their feeder schools to develop a more effective induction programme for pupils in the summer term.

The school is highly organised and well led. Leaders and staff work well together, and staff enjoy working at the school. Staff are united and adopt a consistent approach to their work.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders make sure that staff receive regular training and are aware of their duty of care. They update policies regularly and check that these policies are implemented consistently.

Staff are confident about identifying and referring pupils who may be vulnerable. Leaders work well with external agencies to support pupils at risk, as well as their families.

Pupils learn how to adopt safe behaviours in their everyday life.

They learn about road safety as well as how to avoid risks when using the internet and social media. They also have talks from the police about risks outside school.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

Over the last two years, outcomes in key stage 2 reading and mathematics tests have been low for some pupils.

Recently, progress in mathematics has improved following the introduction of new methods of teaching. Leaders are also implementing new approaches to the way reading is taught in Year 3, and the way reading skills are developed across the years. Leaders should embed these new approaches to secure further improvement in reading, especially for those who start with low reading ability when they join the school.

. Some pupils get off to a slow start in Year 3. This affects their progress throughout key stage 2.

Leaders have plans to improve the induction process this year with a particular focus on pupils with SEND. Leaders should ensure that the transition process from key stage 1 to key stage 2 is improved to provide pupils with a better start in Year 3.

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 a section 8 inspection of a good or non-exempt outstanding school. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection.

This is the first section 8 inspection since we judged the school to be good on 6–7 April 2016.