Overdale Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The very effective leadership of the headteacher has driven recent school development, increasing the rate of improvement made in all areas. Pupils make good progress and achieve well as they move through the school.

Standards are well above national averages, with particular improvement in mathematics in the last year. Teaching is good. Staff have strong working relationships with pupils and offer them lots of praise and encouragement.

Pupils' behaviour is consistently good. They know how to keep safe and most get on very well together. Senior staff and governors are leading the school well.

They share a vision and determinatio...n that what is provided for the pupils will continue to improve. Parents and carers are generally very pleased with the quality of education and care provided for their children. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Some groups of pupils do not achieve quite as well as the rest of their classmates.

A few pupils are not as active in their learning as others and offer few ideas in discussion. In a small number of lessons pupils do not understand exactly what they are expected to do. Not all support staff have the necessary confidence and skills for their role.

Information about this school

This is a larger than average-sized junior school. Around 60% of pupils are from minority ethnic groups, which is above the national average. Just over half of these pupils speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is half the national average. Currently, this provides additional funding for those known to be eligible for free school meals. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs identified at school action is a little above the national average, as is the percentage supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs.

Since the previous inspection there has been a new appointment as headteacher and several other changes of staff. During the inspection the large majority of the Year 6 pupils and the staff who work with them were out of school on a residential visit. The school meets the government's floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics.

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