St Joseph's Catholic Junior School

Overview: St Joseph's Catholic Junior School is a good school where pupils are happy and safe, and learn in a positive and nurturing environment. Leaders have high expectations of all pupils and they behave well in and out of lessons. Pupils are well mannered and show maturity when speaking to adults.

Strengths:

• Pupils are happy and safe, and learn in a positive and nurturing environment.
• Leaders have high expectations of all pupils and they behave well in and out of lessons.
• Pupils are well mannered and show maturity when speaking to adults.
• The curriculum is broad and well sequenced, and leaders support pupils' wider development throughout the curriculum.
• Pupils are patient and kind to each other, and learn about a range of different cultures and faiths.

Areas to improve:

• Some pupils do not express an enjoyment of reading and do not read for pleasure at home. Leaders should encourage pupils to read widely and often.
• In a few foundation subjects, leaders' efforts to build cross-curricular links dilute the key knowledge that pupils need to learn.
• Teachers do not routinely check pupils' understanding in lessons, and leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment to check that pupils are ready to move on.

Safeguarding: The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Leaders ensure a strong culture of safeguarding runs through the school, and all staff have received training to know when and how to report concerns about the welfare of pupils.