Wavell Community Junior School

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Mrs Gillian Crouch Executive Headteacher Wavell Community Junior School Wavell Road Catterick Garrison North Yorkshire DL9 3BJ

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School

This letter sets out the findings from the monitoring inspection of your school that took place on 23 November 2022, on behalf of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills. The monitoring inspection was carried out under section 8(2) of the Education Act 2005 and took place because the school has received two successive judgements of requires improvement at its previous graded (section 5) inspections.

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School

During the inspection, I discussed with you and other senior leaders, other staff, governors and a representative of the local authority the actions that have been taken to improve the school since the most recent graded inspection. We discussed the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also spoke to the leaders of history, physical education and science, visited lessons, listened to pupils read to familiar adults and spoke with pupils in Year 6. I have considered all this in coming to my judgement.

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have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the

The school should take further action to:

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have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the

 ensure that teachers have secure subject knowledge and security in their plans to achieve ambitious end points in the curriculum  ensure that teachers take routine opportunities and secure strategies to check what pupils know and remember so that pupils can securely build on their prior knowledge.

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Main findings

You and other leaders have taken swift and decisive action to address the areas for improvement identified in the previous section 5 inspection report. As the new executive headteacher you acted with immediacy and purpose to begin to improve the provision at Wavell Junior School. You have empowered new and existing leaders at all levels. This has enabled you to create consistency and continuity for children across the primary phase in this community. You have instilled confidence in parents.

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Main findings

Your actions have been pivotal in addressing the previous weaknesses of the school’s curriculum. You have developed strong cross-federation links and utilised the skills of the other school in the federation to develop a comprehensive and strong primary curriculum. Leaders have orchestrated this well, knowing that robust change takes time. You are mindful of the need for sustainable change, empowering staff across the piece to ‘own’ their curriculum. As a result, it is well researched and showing signs of careful implementation. You are investing in subject leadership throughout the school. With the support of leaders, your partner federation school and the networks of the wider local authority, subject leaders are able to support and challenge teachers in the delivery of all curricular areas.

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Main findings

You acknowledge that some subjects are in their first cycle of teaching. As a result, teachers are still reviewing and refining the content and sequence in these subjects. This can mean that in some lessons, learning is less powerful as teachers are not mindful of the next steps in a unit. You are similarly aware that assessment strategies within the wider curriculum are in their infancy. You and subject leaders are able to demonstrate the interesting ways that you are considering developing this. You are conscious that assessment should be meaningful and must support teachers to check that all pupils know more and remember more of your carefully considered curriculum.

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Main findings

You have utilised the skills of leaders and teachers, alongside support from partner school and an English hub, to further support those pupils who are struggling to read. You have not limited your vision to those who did not pass the phonics screening check. Your teachers follow your chosen reading scheme with precision. You have recently introduced a published support package for those children who need help to catch up and keep up. This is impactful. Throughout school you have developed a tangible reading culture. Pupils value this approach; they reflect on it enthusiastically, saying how much they enjoy the diverse selection of literature that you provide for them.

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Main findings

Following the school’s inspection in September 2021, governors and staff have worked closely with the local authority, a national leader of education and a national leader of governance. The local authority commissioned a package of support. This has led to rapid improvement in school. Other support, including a focus on safeguarding, inclusion and attendance have all contributed to the school’s improvement.

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Main findings

A federation-wide governing body is now well established. Members have a range of skills to support their challenge of school leaders. They ask questions and challenge effectively in order to ensure that leaders are making the right decisions to improve the school. The governing body has been highly focused on the areas for improvement in the section 5 inspection report, together with ensuring the long-term stability of the school.

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Main findings

I am copying this letter to the co-chairs of the federation governing body, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for North Yorkshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted reports website.

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