Abbotswood Junior School

Inspection of a good school: Abbotswood Junior School Ringwood Road, Totton, Southampton, Hampshire SO40 8EB

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Outcome

Abbotswood Junior School continues to be a good school. There is enough evidence of improved performance to suggest that the school could be judged outstanding if we were to carry out a graded (section 5) inspection now. The school’s next inspection will be a graded inspection.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have very high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils. They have created a curriculum that is aspirational for all pupils.

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What is it like to attend this school?

This is a happy school with so much on offer. Pupils love school life. They enjoy the many clubs, performing in the up-and-coming performance of ‘The Jungle Book’ and representing the school in many sporting competitions. Parents and carers are highly positive about the school and their children’s experiences. As one parent wrote, summing up the views of many: ‘They are a big school but manage to make every child feel important.’

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders promote positive learning behaviours extremely well. Pupils work very hard. They adore showing their work to Tommy, the school dog, as a reward. Pupils behave exceptionally well in lessons and around the school. Pupils fully understand the school’s ‘stars’ values of stickability, teamwork, aspiration, respect and stretch. Classrooms are vibrant and excellent places to learn. Playgrounds are active and pupils feel safe. They appreciate the open door of ‘Room 5’ and the staff there who ‘make things better’. Adults listen to pupils carefully. Pupils say that, occasionally, bullying happens. Leaders investigate any claims well and put support in place immediately.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Staff and governors alike share the headteacher’s vision that all pupils, especially the most disadvantaged, consistently benefit from the superb opportunities that the school provides. Leaders have created an engaging curriculum that precisely sets out what pupils should learn and when. Staff speak highly about the training and coaching they receive. This supports them to understand and teach the curriculum very well. Provision for pupils 7 and 8 June 2023

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with SEND is very effective. Staff notice additional needs quickly. Teachers adapt tasks skilfully. Pupils’ personalised targets are precise and reviewed regularly. Leaders liaise well with the many feeder infant schools, so that provision can be right for pupils as soon as they join. As a result, pupils achieve exceptionally well.

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Teachers have excellent knowledge of the subjects they teach. They are supported well by knowledgeable subject leaders and collaborative planning in year group teams. Leaders reflect frequently on the effectiveness of the curriculum. They look to tweak anything that could be even better for pupils.

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Pupils remember the knowledge that they have learned very well. There is a clear ‘Abbotswood way’ to delivering the curriculum. This ensures that teachers check pupils’ understanding regularly. Teachers identify and address any misconceptions and gaps in pupils’ learning swiftly. They provide purposeful opportunities for pupils to recap prior learning often. Pupils speak of how supportive the school-wide ‘last, last, last’ sessions are. These help pupils to review their learning from last week, last month and last term.

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There is a strong culture of reading and a love of books in the school. At story time, you can hear a pin drop as pupils listen enthusiastically to teachers reading to their class. Teachers encourage pupils to read widely and often. Pupils love taking part in the school’s reading challenge, the ‘Space Race’. Leaders know exactly which pupils need more support with learning to read. For these pupils, staff deliver effective phonics sessions with skilful precision. This makes sure that pupils catch up with their reading quickly.

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Leaders ensure that pupils learn how to listen to others’ views. The weekly speaking and listening session enables pupils to debate issues such as equity, equality and caring for the environment. Pupils like the different leadership roles on offer. For example, sports leaders enjoy coaching younger pupils in a range of sporting techniques. Eco-leaders are on a mission to ensure that everyone switches classroom lights off. Pupils show care and respect for the environment and others.

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Staff are immensely proud to work at the school. Morale is high and teamwork strong. One member of staff said: ‘There is always someone who will have your back.’ Leaders consider the benefit to pupils and the impact on staff’s workload carefully when introducing changes. Staff enjoy working in such a supportive team.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders ensure that safeguarding is a high priority for all adults who work or volunteer in the school. They have ensured that everyone is trained well. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities clearly. Adults are alert and report any concerns, however small. This means that leaders have an accurate oversight of pupils’ welfare. Leaders keep detailed records of any safeguarding actions they have taken. Leaders work well with external services. Governors monitor safeguarding thoroughly. 7 and 8 June 2023

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Leaders makes sure that pupils learn how to keep themselves safe. This includes being safe online and how to build and maintain positive relationships.

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Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

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Background

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in June 2017.

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How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 7 and 8 June 2023

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School details

Inspection number 10241808 Type of school Junior

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 28 and 29 June 2017, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school uses one unregistered alternative provider.  There is a before- and after-school club for pupils who attend the school.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the school.  The inspector completed deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics and history. She discussed the curriculum with subject leaders, spoke to staff and pupils, visited lessons and looked at samples of pupils’ work. The inspector heard pupils read to an adult from the school. She also spoke to leaders about the curriculum and looked at samples of pupils’ work in some other subjects.  The inspector met with senior leaders, staff and pupils. She also met with seven members of the governing body, including the chair. 7 and 8 June 2023

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 The inspector held a telephone call with a representative from the local authority and a representative from the alternative provision.  To inspect safeguarding, the inspector checked the single central record, reviewed safeguarding records, and spoke to leaders, staff and pupils. She also discussed safeguarding with those responsible for governance.  The inspector reviewed a range of documentation, including leaders’ self-evaluation of the school and the school improvement plan.  The inspector met with the leaders and staff to discuss pupils’ wider development, pupil behaviour and staff well-being and workload.  The views of parents were gathered through Ofsted’s online survey, Ofsted Parent View, and the associated free-text comments.  The inspector also took account of responses from staff and pupils to Ofsted’s online surveys.  At the time of the inspection, the vast majority of Year 4 pupils, along with several

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staff, were away from school on a residential visit.

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Inspection team

Lea Hannam, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector 7 and 8 June 2023

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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