Newhall Community Junior School

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

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James Goodman Headteacher Newhall Community Junior School Chesterfield Avenue Newhall Swadlincote Derbyshire DE11 0TR

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School

This letter sets out the findings from the monitoring inspection of your school that took place on 26 April 2023, 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, the chair of 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 reviewed plans for improvement and discussed the curriculum with a group of subject leaders. I visited a sample of lessons, reviewed pupils’ work and spoke with a group of pupils. I reviewed the provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). I reviewed the school’s safeguarding arrangements. 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 the revised curriculum is implemented and embedded in all subjects so that it enables pupils to know and remember more as they progress through the school.

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Main findings

Since the previous inspection, there has been a change in leadership. You were appointed as headteacher in September 2022.

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Main findings

You and other senior leaders have carefully considered how the curriculum needed to be improved in some subjects. You have ensured that the curriculum is now fully mapped out so that it prioritises the key knowledge and skills that pupils should gain, and when, in all areas. Teachers are in the early stages of implementing the revised curriculum. You also plan to adapt and personalise the curriculum further to the context of the school across a wide range of subjects, to mirror what you have recently done in geography. Subject leaders have begun to check systematically whether the curriculum is having the desired impact on pupils’ ability to know and remember more. The full impact of the curriculum revisions is not yet clear.

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Main findings

You have continued to prioritise reading. Pupils in all year groups receive phonics teaching, where it is still needed, so that they catch up quickly. A love of reading, and books, is widely promoted across the school.

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Main findings

You have made extensive, positive changes to the way in which you identify and support the needs of pupils with SEND. You now have strong systems for identifying pupils’ needs more quickly than in the past. The targets that are set for pupils to achieve are precise and measurable, and readily accessible to all staff. There is now an accurate overview of the school’s provision for pupils with SEND. Strong systems and positive relationships support pupils with SEND to be fully included in lessons, and in the wider life of the school.

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Main findings

Leaders and governors have a shared ambition for all pupils to receive a good quality of education that supports them to develop as well-rounded individuals. Working together as a cohesive team, you have identified the right priorities for improvement. Your plans to address these priorities are precise and appropriate, and considerate of staff’s workload. Curriculum leaders and other staff are equally committed to implementing the improvements you have introduced.

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Main findings

You have worked collaboratively with the local authority, and improvement advisers from a multi-academy trust, to support your work. You value the professional conversations and helpful recommendations provided by these external advisers.

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Main findings

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the Department for Education’s regional director and the director of children’s services for Derbyshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted reports website. Yours sincerely

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