St Augustine's CofE (Voluntary Aided) Junior School

Overview

St Augustine’s CofE Junior School “continues to be a good school,” offering a “warm and welcoming” environment where pupils are motivated by high aspirations and rewards. Leaders have designed an “interesting and ambitious curriculum” that builds knowledge over time, supported by staff with “good subject knowledge” who consistently implement it as intended.

Strengths

• Pupils are “well supported in making the transition from infant school” and quickly understand expectations, with bullying described as “rare.”
• The curriculum is enriched by “regular access to forest school and outdoor learning,” swimming, residential visits, and trips to broaden life experiences.
• Teachers are “skilled at providing timely support” to fill knowledge gaps, ensuring pupils at risk of falling behind receive individual mentor time.
• Reading is prioritised through a “systematic phonics programme,” resulting in pupils who are “fluent and confident readers.”
• Governors are “very mindful of staff well-being and workload,” creating a culture where staff feel supported and valued.

Areas to improve

• In some foundation subjects, the knowledge staff want pupils to remember is “too broad,” preventing pupils from thinking deeply about the most important content.
• Assessment in foundation subjects needs refining to focus “sharply on the most important knowledge,” ensuring misconceptions and gaps are identified quickly.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with adults well trained to identify concerns and leaders responding “swiftly and with tenacity” to keep pupils safe.