Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Blue Coat Church of England Aided Junior School on April 3, 2019, following its previous judgment of good in May 2015. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team has effectively upheld educational standards, fostering a strong and united staff who create a positive learning environment. Recent restructuring of the leadership team has enhanced leadership capacity and strengthened the federation with the infant school, allowing for better tracking of pupil progress from Nursery to Year 6. The transition between the two schools is smooth, with pupils settling quickly into Year 3.
The school is characterized by a welcoming community where pupils from diverse backgrounds interact harmoniously. They demonstrate mutual respect, contributing to a positive climate conducive to learning. Attendance rates are above the national average, and pupils exhibit good manners and a genuine enjoyment of school life. The curriculum is broad and balanced, with strong support for cultural development. Pupils learn French and play musical instruments in Years 5 and 6. The school has successfully addressed previous areas for improvement, particularly in writing, and there is a rising trend in attainment and progress at the end of key stage 2.
However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the progress of disadvantaged pupils in reading and their reasoning skills in mathematics. The school has implemented additional support and interventions to help pupils catch up, but not all pupils are reaching age-related expectations. Safeguarding measures are effective, with a climate of safety established by well-trained staff who follow proper procedures for reporting concerns. Pupils feel safe and are educated on various safety topics, including online safety.
The inspection focused on reading progress among disadvantaged pupils, revealing that while most are making progress, it is insufficient for all to meet expectations. The school has prioritized reading this year, introducing high-quality books and a whole-class text approach. However, the condition of some classroom texts and library books is poor, limiting pupils' engagement with reading. The leadership team is committed to improving reading outcomes and has a clear understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses.
In mathematics, the inspection noted that while challenge levels are appropriate for all pupils, reasoning skills, particularly among disadvantaged pupils, need further development. The school has implemented various interventions for pupils with special educational needs, resulting in positive outcomes. Behaviour across the school is generally positive, although fixed-term exclusions are above the national average. The school is actively working to reduce these numbers through effective behaviour management strategies.
Next steps for the school include ensuring that disadvantaged pupils make good progress in reading and are provided with challenging reading materials, enhancing teaching to develop pupils' mathematical reasoning skills, and continuing efforts to reduce fixed-term exclusions. The inspection findings highlight the school's commitment to improvement and the need for ongoing focus on specific areas to enhance pupil outcomes.
