Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of Carrant Brook Junior School on 24 March 2023, following two successive judgments of requires improvement. The inspection aimed to assess the progress made by the school since its last graded inspection. The findings indicate that while some progress has been made, further work is necessary for the school to achieve a good rating.
During the inspection, discussions were held with the headteacher, staff, governors, and representatives from the local authority regarding the actions taken to improve the school. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the school’s operations was also considered. The inspector visited classrooms, reviewed students' work, interacted with pupils, and examined curriculum documents and development plans.
The school has undergone some structural changes, reducing from seven to six classes, with a change in governance. However, there have been no changes to the teaching staff. The leadership team is actively working to implement necessary changes to the curriculum. A new systematic synthetic phonics program has been introduced, addressing gaps in pupils' phonics knowledge. This initiative has provided pupils with ample practice to enhance their reading fluency and spelling accuracy. Additionally, efforts to improve staff knowledge in teaching pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are underway, ensuring that teaching builds on what these pupils already know.
Subject leaders have been identifying essential knowledge that pupils need to learn across various subjects, which has positively impacted staff understanding of the curriculum. Increased training opportunities are helping staff apply effective teaching methods in specific subjects. In subjects where the curriculum is more established, such as science and computing, pupils demonstrate enthusiasm and a strong grasp of subject content. However, in some subjects, the curriculum goals are not ambitious enough, and while leaders are beginning to address this, it is still in the early stages.
Governors are actively monitoring the work of school leaders against the school improvement plan. The headteacher is utilizing advice and support from the local authority effectively, which has equipped subject leaders to better assess the delivery of the curriculum. This collaborative effort is beginning to help evaluate the overall impact of the curriculum over time. Nonetheless, some inconsistencies in the implementation and impact of the curriculum remain, indicating that further development is needed.
In summary, Carrant Brook Junior School continues to require improvement. While there have been positive steps taken towards enhancing the curriculum and addressing the needs of pupils, particularly those with special educational needs, more work is necessary to ensure that all pupils can achieve ambitious curriculum goals. The leadership team is committed to ongoing improvement, and with continued support and effective implementation of strategies, the school has the potential to progress towards a good rating in future inspections. The findings from this monitoring inspection will be shared with relevant stakeholders, including the governing body and the Department for Education, to ensure transparency and accountability in the school's improvement journey.
