Harnham Church of England Controlled Junior School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 May 2026

Pupils experience a calm, caring environment where they feel safe and supported. They enjoy the warm welcome that greets them each morning. Pupils trust adults to listen to them and help if they have any worries. Many value the ‘Mulberry’ room as a place where they can talk about things that matter to them. This helps pupils who face personal challenges to feel ready to learn and contributes to regular attendance. Across the school, pupils speak confidently about the school’s ‘FAITH’ values and what they mean in practice. For example, they show ‘tenacity’ by not giving up and demonstrate ‘harmony’ in their positive interactions with others. Pupils report that behaviour has improved considerably in recent years due to raised expectations. They follow the ‘ready, respectful and safe’ routines confidently. Bullying and discriminatory language are rare and never tolerated. Pupils enjoy the wider opportunities available to them. They talk with pride about singing at Wembley and performing at rock concerts. Many pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, take part in clubs such as art, mindfulness and sports. Pupils value the leadership roles they hold, including as school councillors and play leaders. They describe how these experiences help them make a positive contribution to school life. From history lessons to music, pupils enjoy learning. Those who need extra help, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, receive appropriate support so they can learn the same curriculum as their peers. However, over time, some pupils have not secured the basic skills they need, especially in writing. Leaders recognise this. They have high aspirations for every pupil to achieve their very best. Already, recent improvements to the curriculum and teaching are making a positive difference.

What the school should improve

• Leaders need to strengthen pupils’ achievement in handwriting, spelling and punctuation knowledge so that pupils develop secure basic skills and are well prepared for each stage of their learning.
• Leaders should continue to ensure that teaching consistently identifies and corrects gaps in pupils' understanding so that errors and misconceptions are addressed quickly and do not persist.

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