Knowsley Junior School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 June 2026

Pupils are proud to be part of this caring and harmonious school. They enjoy positive relationships with staff and with each other. Pupils are valued members of the school community. They contribute to the life of the school in different ways. For example, pupils take on roles as school councillors and eco-warriors. They enjoy taking part in charity fundraising events. Pupils participate in environmental work, such as collecting litter and planting flowers to attract bees. They speak confidently about the difference that their work makes to the school and to the wider community. These experiences support pupils’ confidence and sense of belonging. Pupils value the support that they receive from kind and caring staff. This includes pupils from vulnerable groups, such as those who are disadvantaged and those known to social care. This helps to reduce their barriers to learning. Pupils feel safe and well looked after. They have positive attitudes to school. Pupils behave well. They are polite and friendly. Bullying is rare. Teachers quickly resolve any incidents of unkind words or behaviour. Pupils benefit from an engaging curriculum, which has been designed to take account of the school’s context, pupils’ learning needs and their starting points. Pupils enjoy school and attend regularly. They want to come to school to learn each day. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Pupils take pride in their achievements. They generally achieve well. As a result, pupils are typically well prepared for the challenges of high school.

What the school should improve

• Building on recent gains, leaders should ensure that they have a more effective oversight of the systems and processes within the school, such as the recording of behaviour incidents, so that they can taken action as required and check the impact of school improvement priorities.
• Leaders should ensure that they extend staff's professional development programme, so that it is closely aligned to school improvement priorities and further develops staff's expertise to deliver the curriculum.
• Governors should build on the positive steps that they have taken to hold leaders to account by further developing their expertise so that they can offer leaders informed support and challenge.
• Leaders should further develop pupils’ basic skills in number and grammar so that pupils achieve as well in these areas as in other subjects.

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