Thornhill Junior and Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have ensured that the quality of teaching is good.

Professional development for teaching staff in subjects such as phonics and writing has ensured that pupils typically make strong progress. Leaders have placed reading at the heart of pupils' learning. Consequently, pupils are enthusiastic readers and show a secure understanding of what they have read.

The curriculum is well designed and, hence, captures pupils' interest and feeds their motivation to learn. As a result, pupils demonstrate positive attitudes in lessons. Although teaching is good, in a range of subjects, including English and mathematics, some pupils, often the most... able, receive work which is not challenging enough.

Therefore, too few pupils reach the higher standards of learning. Leaders have successfully reduced pupils' absences to bring attendance rates in line with average. Pupils understand the importance of good attendance and value their education.

Leadership and teaching in the early years are both effective. Adults enable the children to become confident, independent learners. Consequently, children make strong progress.

Governors, trustees and the trust are effective in challenging and supporting leaders. They make an important contribution to the strategic leadership of the school. Leaders of a number of wider curriculum subjects are not experienced in ensuring effective teaching in their subjects.

Additionally, they are not able to demonstrate the difference they make to pupils' outcomes. Teaching assistants often support pupils' learning effectively. However, this is not the case in all year groups consistently.

Although disadvantaged pupils' attainment has often lagged behind that of other pupils nationally, strengthened leadership in this area has secured better progress for current pupils. Phonics teaching has improved considerably and most pupils develop their early reading skills well. However, for some pupils, particularly some lower-attaining pupils, teaching is not fully effective and their progress is hampered.

Leaders promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development very well. Strong teaching in music and personal, social, health, citizenship and economic (PSHCE) education underpins this effectively. Pupils are polite, respectful and empathetic.

Information about this school

Thornhill Junior and Infant School is a larger-than-average-sized primary school. It opened in September 2016 when it joined the Focus Trust. Children start at the school in the Reception class.

The predecessor school was inspected in March 2015 and its overall effectiveness was judged to be good. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is above average. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage and 11 different ethnic groups are represented.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is below average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above average but the proportion with an education, health and care (EHC) plan is average. The school runs a breakfast club, after-school club and holiday club for pupils.

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