Granby Junior School, located in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, underwent an inspection on 15 and 16 October 2024. The inspection revealed that the quality of education at the school requires improvement, while behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were rated as good. The school previously received a good grade in its last inspection in June 2023.
Most pupils express enjoyment in attending Granby Junior School, highlighting the care and kindness of the staff. Strong relationships exist between staff and pupils, with staff demonstrating a thorough understanding of the challenges pupils face in their learning. This supportive environment fosters a sense of safety and readiness to learn among students. Staff maintain high expectations for behaviour and learning, consistently implementing the school’s behaviour policy, which results in good behaviour and hard work during lessons.
Despite the school’s commitment to its pupils, the desired outcomes are not fully realized. Recent changes to the curriculum have not yet produced the intended impact, with inconsistencies in implementation across various subjects. Some subjects lack clarity regarding the specific knowledge pupils are expected to acquire. The school’s values, centered on caring and achieving one’s best, are embraced by pupils, who demonstrate care for one another and their community. Initiatives such as the eco-committee and market stall projects allow pupils to engage in improving their environment and developing enterprise skills.
The school is actively working on designing an ambitious curriculum in collaboration with the governing body and local authority. Staff are engaged in team efforts to enhance the curriculum to meet the diverse needs of all pupils. While some subjects have clear and logical planning, others lack specificity regarding the intended learning outcomes. This inconsistency affects pupils’ ability to recall essential knowledge.
Teachers employ various methods to assess pupils’ understanding during lessons, using the gathered information to address misconceptions. However, in subjects where learning objectives are unclear, teachers struggle to accurately gauge pupils’ comprehension of key concepts. The school promotes a love of reading, yet some pupils lack confidence in their reading abilities, impacting their overall access to the curriculum. Recent expansions in reading interventions aim to provide better support for improving reading and comprehension skills, although it is too early to assess their effectiveness.
Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is effective, ensuring they can access the curriculum. Staff utilize consistent approaches to help all pupils manage their emotions, providing techniques and safe spaces for those needing additional support. The school collaborates closely with families to emphasize the importance of attendance, resulting in good attendance rates among most pupils.
Pupils engage actively in after-school sports and activities, fostering teamwork and a sense of pride. The school prioritizes mental health and teaches respect for diversity, equipping pupils to become responsible citizens. Staff report feeling well-supported, with their well-being and workload being carefully considered, contributing to a sense of pride in their work at the school.
The safeguarding arrangements at Granby Junior School are effective. However, the school must address several areas for improvement. In subjects with less developed curricula, the key knowledge and skills expected of pupils are not clearly defined, hindering their understanding. The school needs to ensure that all subjects have a well-defined curriculum that outlines essential content over time. Additionally, learning activities must consistently support pupils in retaining key knowledge. The school should also enhance assessment systems to provide teachers with accurate insights into pupils’ learning progress. Finally, reading support must be more precise to help all pupils become confident readers, ensuring they receive timely assistance to develop their reading skills across the curriculum.
