Burnley Lowerhouse Junior School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 September 2023

Burnley Lowerhouse Junior School is a place where everyone is made to feel welcome, regardless of their differences. Pupils are kind and considerate towards one another. They told inspectors that staff know them well. Pupils trust that staff will listen to any concerns that they may have. This helps them to feel safe at school. Over time, pupils grow in confidence due to the care and support that the school provides. Most pupils have positive attitudes, and they engage willingly in their learning. The school has raised its expectations of what pupils can achieve. This means that pupils have started to benefit from recent improvements to the curriculum. However, in some subjects, including reading and mathematics, pupils do not achieve as well as they should. Pupils know that they are expected to behave well. They are polite and courteous. The school has effective systems in place to ensure that staff deal appropriately with incidents of bullying. Pupils value taking part in different school events and activities. They particularly enjoy the leadership roles that the school offers, such as having the opportunity to act as well-being ambassadors. Pupils are proud of the part that they play in deciding what clubs will take place. All pupils can participate in these activities, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

What the school should improve

• The school, including governors, have not ensured that some staff are well trained to deliver the reading curriculum, including the phonics programme. As a result, pupils do not achieve as well as they should in reading. The school should ensure that staff are suitably trained to deliver the reading curriculum consistently well. This is so that pupils can read fluently and accurately.
• In some subjects, the school has not ensured that learning is designed to help pupils remember the most important knowledge for subsequent learning. This prevents pupils from accessing new learning, as well as developing and deepening their understanding of concepts. The school should ensure that learning helps pupils to embed important knowledge into their long-term memory.
• Those responsible for governance do not have a secure enough understanding of the quality of education that pupils receive. As a result, they have been unable to provide a sufficient level of challenge to the school. Those responsible for governance should ensure that they are well equipped to hold the school to account effectively.
• Some pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, do not attend school as often as they should. These pupils miss out on important learning. The school should ensure that these pupils receive the support that they need to attend school regularly.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)