Kinsale Junior School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 September 2023

Pupils are very positive about their school. They benefit from good relationships with adults. They are well cared for. Younger pupils have settled in quickly, and they feel very happy. Pupils enjoy their lessons and they like spending time with their friends. Pupils are given many opportunities that supplement their curriculum experiences, for example they speak animatedly about their school trips. Pupils visit Banham Zoo or Africa Alive each year and these trips are extremely popular. Pupils are expected to achieve well. Leaders have made considerable changes to the school curriculum to ensure that pupils learn as well as they should. Pupils enjoy their interesting and challenging lessons. They know that teachers have high expectations of them. Pupils strive to do well in class. They work hard, and teachers help them if they get stuck. Lessons are calm and orderly. Pupils focus on their learning and show good levels of respect. Learning is rarely disrupted by poor behaviour. This ensures that pupils can maintain focus on their work. Outside of lessons, a small minority of pupils do not behave well enough. They can be unkind, and sometimes too rough, towards their peers. This leaves some pupils feeling worried about other pupils' behaviour.

What the school should improve

• In some areas of the curriculum where it is not as clear about what pupils need to learn, teacher checks are not being used as precisely as they should be to identify gaps in pupils' understanding or knowledge. Leaders need to ensure that all areas of the curriculum are as sufficiently clear in what knowledge needs to be taught. Leaders need to train teachers so they are secure in checking what pupils know and remember, so that pupils achieve well in all areas of the curriculum.
• There is a small minority of pupils who sometimes display unkind behaviour towards their peers, including younger pupils. Occasionally, they can use unpleasant language and are sometimes rough towards others. Adults regularly address this behaviour, but this does not prevent it from reoccurring. Leaders need to continue to support pupils who are not meeting the school's high expectations to improve their behaviour, so all pupils consistently treat others with respect and kindness.

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