Princethorpe Junior School

Inspection of Princethorpe Junior School Princethorpe Road, Weoley Castle, Birmingham, West Midlands B29 5QB

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good

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Overall effectiveness Good

Previous inspection grade Not previously inspected under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 27 and 28 June 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

At Princethorpe Junior School leaders strive to achieve the very best for each pupil. Pupils are happy and safe. They enjoy attending school and learning new things. However, some pupils do not attend school regularly and miss important learning.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders make sure that pupils behave well. They deal with any incidents of poor behaviour or bullying quickly so that it does not spread. Pupils work hard in lessons and focus on their learning. At social times, pupils are kind to one another and play well together. Leaders make sure that pupils who need additional support to behave well get the help they need.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders provide a wide range of opportunities to develop pupils’ talents and interests. These include football, dance and gymnastic clubs. Trips and visitors to school such as artists and poets help pupils to deepen their learning. Older pupils enjoy teambuilding and outdoor physical activities during outdoor residential visits.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Most parents are positive about the quality of education their children receive. One parent’s comment was typical when they said, ‘I am very pleased with the school and how my child has progressed.’

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better?

Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum for all pupils. It is clearly sequenced and informs teaching in classrooms. Leaders make sure that teachers have the subject knowledge and resources they need to deliver the curriculum effectively. Teachers present new learning clearly. They make regular checks on pupils’ learning and clarify any misconceptions. However, checks on how well pupils learn and remember the curriculum in lessons and over time are variable in some subjects.

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better?

Leaders prioritise reading. They make sure that staff have the knowledge they need to teach reading well. This includes teaching phonics to those pupils who have fallen behind in their reading. Pupils are well supported to catch up, which they do. Leaders make sure that pupils have access to a wide range of books. This includes books that match the sounds pupils are learning. ‘Golden tickets’, ‘cosy reads’, reading workshops and ‘storytelling thrones’ help to promote reading. As a result, pupils read with increasing fluency, confidence and enjoyment.

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better?

Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are supported effectively. Leaders make sure their needs are identified accurately and that teaching meets these needs. As a result, pupils access the full curriculum and achieve well in school.

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better?

Everybody is welcomed and valued at Princethorpe Junior School. Pupils learn about different religions, cultures and celebrations. Pupils visit places of worship such as a gurdwara and synagogue to learn about different faiths and celebrations. This helps 27 and 28 June 2023

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them to understand and respect difference and learn about the diverse society we live in. Pupils know what democracy is. They vote to elect school parliament and eco council representatives. Pupils learn about the importance of healthy food and lifestyles. They learn strategies to promote positive physical and mental health, such as mindfulness and yoga.

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The school’s rules help pupils to learn about right and wrong. Theatre and police workshops help pupils to understand risks when out and about in the community. Pupils learn about rights and responsibilities through the school’s rights respecting work. All this enhances the curriculum offer and helps to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.

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Parents and pupils value the school’s work, although some pupils miss too much school.

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Leaders know the school and its community well. They are clear about the school’s strengths and priorities for improvement. However, their checks on how well pupils learn the curriculum in lessons and over time could be more rigorous.

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Staff are positive about the support from leaders to manage their workload and well- being. Curriculum schemes of work and the school’s marking policy, for example, help to keep their workload purposeful and manageable.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders prioritise pupils’ safety and welfare. They make sure that staff know how to spot and act on any concerns. Leaders take concerns that staff report seriously. They make sure pupils get the help and support they need to be safe.

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Safeguarding

Pupils learn about online safety, water safety and other risks, including those associated with gangs and knife crime. They learn about healthy, safe relationships and how to keep safe in the community.

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Safeguarding

Leaders make sure that all staff are appropriately vetted prior to working at Princethorpe Junior School.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 Checks on how well pupils learn and remember the curriculum in lessons and over time are variable across subjects. This is because subject leaders have not developed sufficient routines for checking what pupils know and remember over time. Leaders should make sure that the assessments they use identify how well pupils are remembering and applying what has been taught. 27 and 28 June 2023

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 Some pupils do not attend school regularly, particularly younger pupils who have already had their early experiences restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These pupils miss important learning and fall behind in their learning. Leaders should work closely with families so that they understand the importance of regular school attendance.

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How can I feed back my views?

to 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. 27 and 28 June 2023

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School details

Inspection number 10267812 Type of school Junior

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School details

Website www.princethorpe.drbignitemat.org

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School details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this school

 Princethorpe Junior School is part of DRB Ignite Multi Academy Trust.  The school does not use alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: art and design, early reading, geography and mathematics. For each deep dive, the inspectors discussed the curriculum with subject leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  Inspectors also met with subject leaders of history, languages and science to make further checks on the curriculum. 27 and 28 June 2023

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 Inspectors observed pupils reading to a familiar adult. Inspectors reviewed reading resources.  Inspectors reviewed a range of documentation published on the school’s website.  Inspectors scrutinised the school’s safeguarding arrangements. This included examining the record of employment checks on school staff.  Inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and at other times during the day.  Inspectors held meetings with the executive headteacher, the head of school, the special educational needs coordinator, the designated safeguarding leader, the attendance leader, curriculum leaders and representatives of the multi-academy trust.  Inspectors took account of responses to Ofsted Parent View, pupil surveys and staff surveys.

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Inspection team

Lorraine Lord, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Mark Bailie Ofsted Inspector 27 and 28 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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