St Margaret’s Church of England Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils achieve well. Progress in reading and writing has improved substantially since 2012 and is now above average.

Preliminary 2013 results suggest that attainment at the end of Year 6 was above average. It improved significantly in reading and writing. Some more-able pupils attained the higher Level 6 in mathematics and in writing.

Teaching is generally good. Literacy is promoted well across all subjects. The quality of marking is good, with helpful comments on how pupils can improve their work.

The broad curriculum enriches pupils' lives, with good opportunities in music, art and sports activities. Leaders, governors and sta...ff make regular and rigorous checks on the quality of teaching and on pupils' progress. This contributes positively to the quality of teaching and learning.

Governors support the school tirelessly. They get very involved with the analysis of test results and ensure that leaders put resources and systems in place for standards to rise even higher. Behaviour is good.

Pupils love coming to this school where they feel that they learn well and make good progress. Attendance is above average. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not outstanding.

Although it caters for different ability groups, it does not always encourage disabled pupils, those with special educational needs and those of lower ability to try harder tasks. Progress in mathematics, although improving, has not done so as rapidly as it has in reading and writing, especially for lower ability pupils. Teachers do not always check that pupils understand the exact meanings of mathematical vocabulary.

There remains a gap between the attainment of pupils in receipt of the pupil premium funding and other pupils in the school.

Information about this school

This is a larger-than-average junior school, with marginally more girls than boys. The majority of pupils are White British, with about one fifth representing other ethnic groups.

Very few come to school speaking English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils in receipt of additional government funding (the pupil premium) is above the national average. In this school the grant is provided for pupils entitled to free school meals and looked after children.

The proportion of pupils identified with special educational needs at school action is well above the national average. The proportions of those supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs are below the national averages. The proportion of pupils looked after is below the national average.

Children enter the school at age seven, in Year 3. Most of them come from the infant school which is located on the same site. The proportion of pupils joining the school at other than the usual time is well above the national average.

Although most of the pupils enter the school at the start of Year 3, quite a few enter throughout Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The school is a member of a consortium of 10 other local schools.

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