Marlpool Junior School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 October 2022

'School is my favourite place to be.' This view of one pupil is shared by many others. Pupils work hard and take pride in their achievements. Leaders ensure that the school's 'Reach' values are at the heart of everything they do. They are ambitious for all pupils to succeed. Pupils behave well and appreciate the rewards system. They love to earn letters on their rainbows for demonstrating the school's values. As they grow in this nurturing environment, pupils develop confidence and resilience. They feel safe and know how to keep themselves safe. Pupils say that bullying is rare. If bullying does occur, they are confident that adults deal with it well. Pupils say that there is always someone to talk to if they have a problem. They use the 'Worry-asaurus' to share their concerns. The school's 'thrive' approach means that pupils' mental health and well-being are supported. Pupils learn how to manage their feelings and emotions. The pastoral support is a strength of the school. Pupils are proud of their responsibilities, including being reading and attendance ambassadors. They care about their community. For example, pupils wrote to residents at the local retirement home during the national COVID-19 restrictions.

What the school should improve

• In some foundation subjects, there is not a consistent approach in how teachers check on what pupils know and remember. Some pupils are left with gaps in their knowledge. Leaders should ensure that there is an effective approach to checking what pupils know and understand in each subject, to enable teachers to check what pupils have learned, and to fill gaps in pupils' knowledge.
• The current level of persistent absenteeism is too high. As a result, some pupils are not accessing the full curriculum and are therefore at risk of falling behind. Leaders should work with parents and carers to ensure that pupils attend school regularly.

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