Bramley Sunnyside Junior School, located in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has been recognized as a good school following its inspection on January 21-22, 2020. The school has a positive atmosphere where pupils enjoy attending, as evidenced by above-average attendance rates. Most students are engaged in their learning, although a small number occasionally disrupt lessons. Staff effectively manage these disruptions, ensuring that the learning environment remains conducive to education.
Pupils feel safe at the school and are taught how to stay safe. They trust the staff to address any concerns, and instances of bullying are rare. When bullying does occur, it is dealt with promptly. While the use of derogatory language is not widespread, it does happen, and staff address it when they are made aware.
The curriculum at Bramley Sunnyside is broad and balanced, with particular strengths in art and design. The quality of artwork produced by pupils is impressive and displayed throughout the school. Pupils also perform well in mathematics, with lessons designed to build on previous knowledge incrementally.
The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities that pupils find motivating, including street dance, mindfulness, floristry, sewing, and performing arts. These activities enhance pupils' knowledge and skills, and staff work diligently to ensure all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged or have special educational needs, are fully included.
Feedback from parents and carers is overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the school through Ofsted’s Parent View survey. In terms of academic achievement, pupils excel in mathematics, with lessons structured to ensure understanding before progressing. The art and design curriculum is also well-structured, allowing pupils to develop their skills effectively.
However, there are areas for improvement. In subjects like history and geography, while the curriculum is planned, it sometimes lacks the challenge needed for pupils to build valuable knowledge over time. The connections between key concepts in these subjects are not always clear, which can hinder long-term retention of knowledge.
Reading is another area where most pupils are making good progress, but not all staff have the necessary expertise to support lower-ability pupils effectively. Although there is a suitable curriculum in place, some pupils do not catch up quickly in phonics. Leaders are aware of this and are working to ensure that all staff are well-trained to support reading development.
The school has implemented various routines and activities to foster a love of reading among pupils. Daily reading sessions with well-chosen books and a wide selection of quality reading materials contribute to developing good reading habits.
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with well-trained staff reporting concerns appropriately. The school promotes respect for diversity, teaching pupils about various social issues, including LGB matters. However, there are still instances of derogatory language that go unreported, and leaders must encourage pupils to speak up about such incidents.
Overall, while Bramley Sunnyside Junior School is performing well, there are clear areas for development, particularly in ensuring that all pupils receive the support they need to excel in reading and in enhancing the curriculum in history and geography to provide a more challenging and cohesive learning experience.
