Greenleys Junior School

Inspection of Greenleys Junior School Marron Lane, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK12 5DE

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Previous inspection grade Outstanding 20 and 21 June 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff, parents and carers describe this school as an ‘oasis of calm’. Many pupils eat together at breakfast club, excited for the day ahead. Pupils have well-developed independent learning skills. They are keen do well in their lessons. Pupils are comfortable in using different resources, such as laptops and books, to help them learn. These skills allow them to make the most of the carefully planned lessons.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Behaviour is exemplary. At break and lunchtime, pupils enjoy each other’s company. They play well together, with mutual respect. This means that they can focus freely and enjoy the games they play and their free time. At the end of lunchtime, all pupils collect together in mixed-year ‘circles’. Here, they reflect on their weekly themes or discuss an important topic. Pupils look forward to this shared experience. It helps ready them for their afternoon learning and strengthens their sense of community.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders prize positive relationships. They see these as the foundation to their school. Pupils understand this too. They say that one of the best things about their school is how caring and kind staff are. Pupils describe bullying as very unusual. They are confident that staff would deal with any incident quickly and effectively.

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better?

Leaders have a very strong vision for education at this school. They are ambitious for every pupil. Staff teach pupils to be curious about the wide world beyond where they live. Pupils are used to linking knowledge from different topics. They discuss and evaluate ideas and clearly enjoy their learning. As a result, the school is a joyful, vibrant place.

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better?

Leaders use their research-based knowledge of curriculum development as they implement their vision. In many subjects, including English and mathematics, what pupils will learn is precisely identified. Teachers have the expertise they need to check what pupils know and to fill any gaps. This means that pupils build a depth of knowledge from Year 3 to Year 6. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported to learn the intended curriculum. Teachers ensure that adaptations are made when individuals need extra help. However, leaders acknowledge that there is further work to ensure that their vision is fully implemented to ensure that pupils achieve well in every subject.

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better?

Reading is prioritised. The different themes in the year-group libraries help pupils to immerse themselves in the high-quality books they read. Opportunities to read in class are frequent. Leaders check pupils’ reading progress regularly. Phonics teaching is in place to help pupils who find reading more difficult. Staff have had the required training they need to teach pupils how to read. However, there is variation in how staff use these techniques to help all pupils become confident and fluent readers. 20 and 21 June 2023

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Leader’s thread teaching about relationships and behaviour throughout the curriculum. This constant focus underpins the very high expectations that staff have for pupils’ conduct. Pupils understand why they should treat each other well. Pupils know that they are each entitled to their own opinion, and they address each other in a mature manner. Pupils who live up to the school’s values earn a ‘school trustee’ badge. Pupils value this award highly. It helps them to recognise their part in creating a positive community. Pupils are proud of their school and naturally offer visitors a welcoming hand to shake.

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Leaders have carefully adapted the building to help it feel welcoming and inspiring. Lighting and music create calm and engaging spaces. Pupils highlight the range of places to learn as an important feature of the school. They eagerly describe ‘the immersive room’, where they learn about far-flung locations. Trips and clubs further support pupils to experience a wide range of activities and experiences.

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Leaders work to continually improve their school. They seek new ideas and research and decide if it is right for their pupils’ learning. Staff are very positive about this work and how it supports school improvements.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have developed robust systems, including a leadership structure, to put safeguarding at the heart of the school. This means that the school is both reactive and proactive in taking action to keep pupils safe. Leaders use their understanding of their local context in considering the risks pupils may face.

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Safeguarding

Staff training is regular, and staff understand their safeguarding responsibility. They make sure that pupils understand how to keep themselves safe and what to do if they have concerns. Pupils say that they feel safe at school, and this means that they can enjoy themselves and learn.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 Leaders’ vision for the curriculum, in every subject, is not fully implemented. This means pupils do not yet achieve as well as they could across the full curriculum. Leaders should provide the further support staff require to embed the curriculum securely and consistently in every subject. 20 and 21 June 2023

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How can I feed back my views?

or 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. 20 and 21 June 2023

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 9 and 10 March 2022, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school offers a morning breakfast club for pupils that is run by school leaders.  The school does not currently use any 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 second routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with school leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspectors held meetings with the headteacher, special educational needs and disabilities coordinator, curriculum leaders and other staff.  The lead inspector met with two governors, including the chair of governors. He also talked to a local authority representative. 20 and 21 June 2023

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 The inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics, music and history. For each deep dive, inspectors met with subject leaders, looked at curriculum plans, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. The lead inspector listened to a sample of pupils read.  The inspectors examined a range of documentation provided by the school, including leaders’ self-evaluation and improvement plans.  The inspectors scrutinised safeguarding records, checked staff’s safeguarding awareness and met with the designated safeguarding leaders.  The inspectors considered the responses to Ofsted’s online survey, Ofsted Parent View. They also took into consideration the responses to the confidential staff and pupil surveys.

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Inspection team

Ed Mather, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Gavin Thomas His Majesty’s Inspector 20 and 21 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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