Downs Junior School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 November 2023

Parents, pupils and staff are all extremely enthusiastic in their praise for the school's inclusive culture and community spirit. Pupils proudly talk about the opportunities and experiences they gain through their school. These include competitions, assemblies and a vast array of clubs, such as 'Downs Play', chess club, 'Mega Choir' and writing club, among many others. Pupils come to school eager and ready to learn. They explore an interesting curriculum that enables them to achieve well and inspires them to do their best. Pupils foster a love of learning through the memorable experiences that staff plan and offer. This includes a visit to an 'astrodome' in school, where pupils learn different information about space. Pupils state they 'feel lucky' to have their own underground air raid shelter where they gain a realistic experience of learning about life during World War II. The school is ambitious for all pupils to achieve well. Mostly, pupils behave well and work hard to meet the high expectations across the school. They demonstrate excellent social skills, quickly opening doors and greeting visitors with enthusiasm. There are strong links with the community and parents appreciate the school's nurturing approach in providing support for pupils. Pupils feel safe at school. Bullying is rare and never tolerated.

What the school should improve

• There are some inconsistencies in how well a small number of pupils are taught to read. This means that these pupils do not always learn to read quickly enough. The school should continue to take action to ensure all pupils learn to read confidently and fluently as quickly as possible.
• Staff do not always use appropriate checks to see if pupils are secure in their knowledge and skills before moving on to new learning. As a result, activities are not always planned carefully enough to help pupils achieve well across the curriculum. The school should ensure pupils' understanding is checked, so that any gaps or misconceptions can be identified to secure the intended learning.

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