St. Margaret's CofE Junior School

Overview

Pupils “thrive” at this calm and orderly school, where staff show “particular concern for the most disadvantaged.” The report highlights an “ambitious, broad curriculum” and “Outstanding” personal development, noting that pupils become “thoughtful, caring and independent minded.” While the overall effectiveness is rated Good, the school excels in fostering character and providing high-quality pastoral care.

Strengths

• Leaders “skilfully plan how to develop pupils’ character,” resulting in pupils who are “well prepared for the next stage of their education.”
• Teachers have “secure knowledge of the subjects they teach” and typically make “good use of these checks to adjust their teaching.”
• Staff provide “very high-quality pastoral care” and ensure pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) “make good progress through the full curriculum.”
• Pupils benefit from an “exceptional range of opportunities to broaden their social understanding,” including community service and extra-curricular clubs.
• The school maintains a “consistent approach to managing pupils’ behaviour,” leading to high attendance and effective collaboration.

Areas to improve

• Teachers must “check carefully that pupils have the prior knowledge they require in every subject” to prevent gaps in learning, particularly in mathematics.
• The school needs to ensure that resources are “precisely linked to the intended curriculum” to help pupils “build and deepen their learning” more effectively.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”