Poulner Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have transformed the school. They have established high expectations and ambition for all.

Staff and pupils alike embrace the strong sense of purpose. Leaders have systematically improved the quality of teaching, learning and assessment across the school. These are now good overall.

Leaders are further strengthening teachers' skills to ensure that the most able pupils are consistently challenged. The wider curriculum is currently under review. Pupils enjoy the full breadth of national curriculum subjects but their learning in the wider curriculum is not consistently as deep as leaders intend.

Pupils make strong progress o...verall. However, the most able do not make the consistently strong progress required to secure the higher standards of attainment in writing and mathematics. Support for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds is well considered and effective.

Current disadvantaged pupils make very strong progress because of this support. The leadership of the provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is highly effective. Pupils with SEND now make excellent progress from their starting points.

There is a strong culture of safeguarding in the school. Leaders work well with many external agencies. They provide regular training to ensure that all staff understand their role in keeping children safe.

Governors are dedicated to the school and give much time to support it. However, they have not remained focused on their strategic role. They have not systematically held leaders to account, including for the use of additional funding.

Leaders and advisers from the local authority have worked well together to access appropriate specialist support when required. Pupils are happy, confident and proud of their school and their learning. They behave well and demonstrate respect to each other and to visitors.

Pupils enjoy the wide range of extra-curricular activities provided, especially those that develop their health and fitness. Pupils' attendance is in line with national averages. Leaders' work to reduce persistent absence has been effective.

Most parents and carers are extremely positive about the changes that leaders have made to the school. They recognise and appreciate the improvements that have been achieved.

Information about this school

Poulner Junior School is larger than the average primary school.

The headteacher joined the school in April 2017. There have been many changes to the school staff since the previous inspection, including to the leadership team. The deputy headteacher, assistant headteacher and SENCo were all appointed following the previous inspection.

Most pupils are from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds is below the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is also below the national average.

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