Orchard Lea Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

New leadership has brought vision, high expectations and stability to this school. Pupils are now learning well.

They are happy and enthusiastic, engaging in learning with vigour. Pupils are courteous, polite and show excellent manners. They behave well both in classrooms and at playtimes.

Pupils and staff understand and follow the new behaviour policy successfully. Pupils love winning house points and nominating their friends for 'star of the week'. They know the school's learning behaviours of being 'caring, resilient, collaborative, independent and reflective' well.

They show them in much of what they do. For example, pupils care for their environment thro...ugh litter picking. They campaign to reduce plastic pollution.

Pupils show resilience when learning is tricky and reflect on their work well when asked to improve it. They contribute to their school through the many roles of responsibility on offer, including being house captains, 'e-cadets' and librarians.

Pupils feel safe.

They learn how to keep themselves safe online, for example explaining top tips for healthy gaming well. They know staff will listen to them if they have a worry. Pupils appreciate the 'time to talk' pegs that they can place on their teachers' desks when they have a concern and need a chat.

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

The school has considered the important knowledge, skills and vocabulary that pupils need to learn and remember in all subjects carefully. Pupils study a broad curriculum in line with the national curriculum. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from well-considered adaptations to achieve as well as their classmates.

The school has strengthened the role and expertise of staff effectively. They have trained subject leaders to make improvements to teaching and learning well.

The school has transformed the teaching of reading since the previous inspection.

Staff have received effective training. They teach pupils to read with expertise and confidence. They model reading well.

Teachers check any gaps or weaknesses in pupils' reading ability forensically. Any pupil who needs more support in phonics, reading fluency or accuracy receives well-tailored provision. Published results in 2023 in reading attainment and progress were significantly below national averages.

This is not reflective of current pupils' learning.

Pupils' work is of high quality. They take great pride in what they produce.

In many subjects, pupils recall their knowledge accurately. For example, in art, Year 6 pupils can talk confidently about the different features of pop art and cubism art movements. However, in the past, curriculum planning and delivery has not been so strong.

This legacy of underachievement means that, sometimes, current pupils have gaps in their knowledge. They find it hard to connect current learning to what they should have learned in the past. Teachers know exactly what to check on that pupils need to know for current and future learning.

They adapt their teaching well to take this into consideration. In some subjects, the school has better systems in place for helping pupils recall and retrieve their learning over time. They should continue with their plans to implement effective processes to help pupils remember key knowledge over time.

This school is increasing the opportunities for pupils to enrich their learning beyond the classroom. All pupils in Year 4 learn a brass instrument and, in Year 5, play the keyboard. The personal, social, health and economic curriculum is well considered and sequenced.

Pupils learn about online safety and healthy relationships well. Pupils have a strong understanding of equality and tolerance. They show great respect of each other and their differing needs.

Staff are proud to work at Orchard Lea Junior School. They appreciate the range of training on offer and the consideration that the school has for their well-being during the period of change. They are fully supportive of leaders and are deeply committed to the school's next steps.

Governors are well equipped to support and challenge school leaders on the next stage of the school's journey.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some foundation subjects, the curriculum and its delivery have not been strong enough in the past.

This means that some pupils have gaps in knowledge. They cannot always connect their new learning to secure past learning well. The school should continue its work in identifying these gaps in pupils' knowledge and addressing them so that pupils achieve consistently well in all subjects.

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