Hinchliffe Mill Junior and Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 5 June 2024

Pupils here are happy and safe. They enjoy coming to school. Older pupils support younger pupils through a buddy system. This helps the school to feel like a family, where everyone supports each other. Pupils play well together. They build close relationships with each other. Over time, leaders have not ensured that pupils achieve well. In some subjects, the school is not clear about what pupils should learn and remember. In lessons, pupils want to learn. They are attentive and listen to adults. However, the curriculum pupils experience does not help them to develop the depth of knowledge they should across all subjects. Pupils enjoy attending after-school clubs, such as cricket and archery. Regular educational visits help pupils to understand more about the subjects they are learning. Pupils contribute to the leadership of the school. They make decisions through a school forum. Pupils have a good understanding of fundamental British values. The school is currently being supported by a partner school and the local authority. New leaders have increased expectations of what pupils can achieve. Very recent changes are beginning to have a positive impact on pupils' learning. However, there is more to do to ensure that pupils benefit from a high-quality education across all subjects.

What the school should improve

• In some foundation subjects and areas of learning in the early years, the school has not set out the precise knowledge that pupils should learn and remember. Staff are not clear about how to help pupils build their knowledge over time in these subjects. As a result, pupils do not develop the depth of understanding that they should. The school should ensure it has a curriculum in place that shows coherent progression and identifies clear endpoints for each year group, including Reception.
• In some subjects, the school does not have developed systems in place to check whether pupils have learned and remembered what they have been taught. In these subjects, staff do not identify when pupils have gaps in their understanding. The school should ensure that assessment is purposeful and used to inform teaching and additional support where it is needed.
• Pupils have limited knowledge of other faiths and cultures. Some pupils do not have the age-appropriate understanding they need of some aspects of the wider society in which they live. Leaders should ensure that there is careful consideration given to supporting pupils to understand different religions and cultures so that pupils understand the different groups that make up modern Britain.

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