St James’ CofE Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders and governors have successfully addressed the key issues identified at the last inspection. The quality of teaching is now good.

Teachers plan purposeful lessons so that pupils learn well. Pupils enjoy school and this is shown in their good attendance and improved punctuality. Outcomes for pupils are good.

Pupils make good progress from their different starting points, particularly in reading and mathematics. By the end of Year 6 they reach standards above the national average. Pupils get off to a good start when they join the school in Year 3.

Leaders have improved transition arrangements so that the youngest pupils sett...le in quickly. Leaders ensure that the progress of all groups of pupils is closely tracked. They swiftly put in place support for any pupils falling behind, so that they catch up quickly.

Pupils take their responsibilities as citizens seriously. They look after younger pupils, raise money for those less fortunate than themselves and actively engage with local community issues. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good.

Pupils value each other's opinions; they listen carefully and respond thoughtfully. The governing body now provides effective support in moving the school forward. Governors understand their roles and responsibilities well and share an ambitious vision for the school.

Pupils say they feel safe at school. They are taught how to keep themselves safe in other environments, including online. Leaders have made sure that parents get more frequent information about how their children are getting on.

Staff make themselves available every day if parents have anything they wish to discuss. It is not yet an outstanding school because : In mathematics, teachers do not make timely enough decisions about pupils' readiness to progress to the next stage, or provide pupils with enough opportunities to think hard and reason for themselves. Pupils are not given enough support to develop the skills and processes essential for writing, including planning, drafting and evaluating.

As a result pupils do not achieve as well as they should in writing.

Information about this school

St James' is a smaller-than-average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils who come from minority ethnic groups is lower than the national average.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is lower than the national average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils supported by the pupil premium funding is below the national average. The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, and children looked after by the local authority.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is above the national average. The school runs breakfast and after-school clubs which are open to all children every day. In 2015 the school met the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6.