Pennine Way Junior Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 November 2024

Pupils are happy and proud to attend Pennine Way. Helped by effective communication, there are strong relationships between home and school. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school. They especially appreciate how well pupils are supported when they start in Year 3. The school works closely with the local infant school to provide continuity for pupils. Extra support is provided for pupils who are more anxious and for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). As a result, all pupils quickly settle as part of the 'Pennine family'. The school promotes a positive environment where pupils feel safe and secure. Pupils understand the high expectations for their behaviour. They follow the 'be ready, be respectful, be safe and be proud' rules. Pupils are well supported when it is challenging to follow these expectations. At playtimes, pupils enjoy disco dancing together on the playground or playing 'fruity football'. Those pupils who need a quieter, calmer place can obtain a pass for 'Joey's Garden'. The school is ambitious for all pupils. Pupils broadly achieve well. The school is focused on improving areas where pupils achieve less well. Since joining the trust recently, the school is well supported to fully realise ambitions for all pupils.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, the school has not ensured that the curriculum and its delivery is designed well to help pupils remember what they are taught. Recently revised teaching plans are at the early stages of implementation and strategies for revisiting knowledge to support pupils' recall are not fully developed. Pupils' knowledge in these subjects is limited. The school should ensure the revised plans are implemented effectively and that revision and recall strategies are used consistently to enable pupils to secure an appropriate breadth of knowledge.
• Sometimes, the school does not ensure that teaching and lesson activities are successfully adapted to meet the needs of pupils with SEND. This can make it difficult for these pupils to secure the intended learning and build on what they know. The school should ensure that all staff have the skills they need to confidently adapt the curriculum when needed.
• The school's approach for teaching pupils about British values is not fully developed. As a result, some pupils do not have an age-appropriate depth of understanding of these. The school should ensure that all pupils develop an age-appropriate understanding of British values that will prepare them for life in modern Britain.

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