Kirkstead Junior Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 June 2022

Kirkstead Junior Academy has become a great place to learn. Leaders have brought the staff and community together to create a team that is ambitious about what pupils can achieve. Parents praise this transformation. They say they are 'really pleased by the improvement in this fantastic school.' Pupils become immersed in their enquiries. Their 'learning journeys' fill the corridors. These include high-quality artefacts that pupils have made with their families at home. Staff value the different communities that make up the school. There are close links with feeder infant schools to support smooth transition. All staff have high expectations of what all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), will know and be able to do. Parents value the support that their children get. They say that 'nothing is too much trouble' for the staff at school. Leaders make sure that pupils are in school as much as possible and support pupils effectively when they cannot attend in person. Pupils take pride in their work. Typically, they listen well in class and work hard. They say that staff address unkind behaviour. They recall little bullying. Playtimes and lunchtimes are harmonious times that pupils share together.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes pupils cannot remember the important knowledge that they have encountered. They are not always able to use this knowledge to explore more complex ideas or deepen their understanding. Leaders should continue to refine the curriculum so that pupils have more opportunities to recall and use prior learning. They should check that pupils can consistently recall this knowledge over time.
• Pupils who join after-school clubs or are responsible for others welcome these opportunities. However, not all pupils have the chance to pursue their interests and talents. Leaders should continue to develop further opportunities for pupils to encounter and explore a wider range of talents and interests beyond the taught curriculum.

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