Moss Hall Junior School, located in Finchley, London, underwent an inspection on July 5 and 6, 2022, and received an overall effectiveness rating of good. The school has made significant improvements since its previous inspection, which rated it as requiring improvement. The quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were all rated as good.
Pupils at Moss Hall Junior School report feeling happy and safe, with a strong sense of community fostered by ambitious leaders and governors. The school promotes values of kindness, hard work, and making a positive difference, which pupils consistently meet. They express enjoyment in their lessons, particularly when discussing relevant global issues. The school supports all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring they achieve well. Respectful behavior is expected, and pupils are encouraged to communicate any concerns they may have, which are addressed promptly by staff.
The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including clubs and trips, to enhance pupils' broader learning experiences. Every pupil is given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, and the school parliament promotes positive character traits, such as resilience. Leaders have developed a broad and ambitious curriculum, with each subject led by a champion who ensures logical sequencing of learning. This approach allows pupils to build on prior knowledge effectively. For instance, Year 5 pupils apply their understanding of fractions to angles in mathematics, while in geography, they learn about UK rivers before studying the Amazon River.
Despite the overall positive feedback, there are areas for improvement. Some subjects have gaps in pupils' knowledge due to the recent introduction of the new curriculum. Leaders are aware of these gaps and are actively working to address them. Teachers regularly recap key knowledge and vocabulary, although some pupils may still struggle to recall historical knowledge from previous years.
Reading is a priority at Moss Hall Junior School, with a new phonics program introduced to align with the infant school. Staff receive training to ensure effective reading instruction, and books are matched to pupils' phonetic knowledge, helping those new to reading catch up quickly. The school environment is calm, with low-level disruption not tolerated, allowing for positive behavior and effective learning.
Leaders have implemented practices to identify and support pupils with special educational needs early on. Each pupil with SEND has an individual learning plan developed collaboratively with teachers, parents, and leaders. This ensures that teachers can anticipate challenges and provide appropriate support, enabling these pupils to access the same curriculum as their peers.
Pupils learn to respect differences and are taught about tolerance and health through regular physical education sessions. Staff appreciate the support from leaders regarding workload and well-being, particularly valuing the coaching provided by senior leaders.
The safeguarding arrangements at Moss Hall Junior School are effective, with staff trained to recognize signs of risk and understand referral processes. Leaders engage with external agencies to provide specialist help when necessary, and online safety is a focus within the computing curriculum. The governing body fulfills its statutory duties effectively, ensuring safe recruitment processes are in place.
To further improve, the school needs to ensure that the new curriculum consistently builds on prior knowledge in foundation subjects, addressing any gaps in learning to enhance pupils' understanding and retention of content.
