Crofton Hammond Junior School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 June 2024

The school has recently been through a period of significant turbulence. Parents are positive that recent developments have provided much-needed stability to help get things back on track. Most pupils enjoy coming to school and are keen to learn. However, there are variations in the quality of education that pupils receive. Pupils do not always develop a secure understanding of the knowledge they need to learn in all the subjects that they study. Most pupils behave well. However, in some lessons pupils lose focus and find it difficult to sustain concentration. This is often because they find the work they are set too hard or too easy. Pupils enjoy the different activities the school provides at playtimes. Pupils usually play really well with each other outside. Occasionally, however, some pupils say or do hurtful or unkind things. Pupils are not always confident staff will deal with this effectively. Many pupils make good use of the wider opportunities on offer, such as singing in the choir or participating in sports. The school supports pupils from service families and those who are young carers well. Pupils take on responsibilities in school with pride, such as being 'peer mentors', 'reading ambassadors' or head pupils.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, including reading, teachers do not teach some of the essential knowledge set out in the curriculum. As a result, pupils have gaps in their learning. The school should ensure that teachers have the training that they need to deliver the full curriculum as intended and monitor the impact of implementation carefully so it is as effective as possible.
• Some pupils with SEND, including those with the most complex needs, do not receive a sufficiently well-designed and adapted curriculum. These pupils do not develop their knowledge as well as they should. The school must ensure that all pupils with SEND benefit from an ambitious curriculum that is well matched to their needs.
• The school has not checked that important elements of the PSHE curriculum are understood by pupils. Some pupils do not have an age-appropriate understanding of protected characteristics. They are not as well prepared for life in modern Britain as they should be. The school should ensure that PSHE is taught consistently well so that all pupils develop an appropriate understanding and appreciation of diversity in society.
• Too many pupils are not engaged in their learning during lessons. This means these pupils are not learning the curriculum as effectively as they should. Staff need to implement the curriculum and apply the new behaviour policy and recommended strategies consistently effectively so that all pupils can engage with their learning and achieve more.

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