Archbishop of York's CofE Junior School, Bishopthorpe

Inspection of Archbishop of York’s CofE Junior School, Bishopthorpe Copmanthorpe Lane, Bishopthorpe, York, North Yorkshire YO23 2QT

p.1

Inspection dates: 25 and 26 October 2023

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

Previous inspection grade Not previously inspected under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The headteacher of this school is Kerry Davies. This school is part of the South York Multi-Academy Trust, which means other people in the trust also have responsibility for running the school. The trust is run by the chief executive officer, Steve Lewis, and overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by Ian Dolben. 25 and 26 October 2023

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

The pupils of Archbishop of York’s CofE Junior School have an energy and curiosity that is a pleasure to see. They are proud of their school.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Staff have high ambitions for pupils’ achievement. Overall, the majority of pupils achieve well. The community is fully invested in the school. Pupils feel supported and know the staff they can turn to if they have worries.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

The vast majority of pupils are respectful and treat each other with kindness. This creates a calm atmosphere in the school. Expectations for behaviour are clear and the pupils know how to behave when in school. Throughout the inspection, pupils were polite and helpful.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

The school offers a range of activities and educational visits for all pupils. Sports clubs, handbell and residential visits are available to all. The variety of clubs allows pupils to build their experiences over their time at the school. Pupils play an important part in shaping what happens in school. The school council, sports council and house captains represent the pupils. These younger leaders share suggestions with staff. The introduction of different sports clubs is one example of where the pupils’ voice has resulted in positive change.

p.2

better?

The school’s curriculum is broad and has depth. Across the curriculum subjects, pupils are given the time needed to enable them to learn new facts and immerse themselves in the subject content. In history, for example, when pupils learn about conflict, they bring historical items in from home to share and tell stories to other pupils. This brings the subject to life. History and physical education are examples of subject areas where a great deal of thought and consideration goes into what content to teach, how to teach it, and when. In history, pupils think like historians. Pupils perform skills with accuracy in physical education.

p.2

better?

In some areas of the curriculum, such as reading, it is not yet fully clear what pupils will be taught, when and how. Furthermore, at present, approaches to teaching the curriculum are inconsistent. This means that pupils’ learning does not always build well on what they already know and can do. The school has already identified this and work to address it is underway. However, there remains more to do so that pupils achieve consistently well across all curriculum subjects.

p.2

better?

The school has gone through a period of change and so staff training has become a school priority. Staff benefit from training that helps them to understand whole- school priorities and to further their own personal development. The school is keen to ensure that any changes made help pupils to fulfil their potential in all areas. For this reason, the school has been making revisions to its curriculum. While this is starting to have a positive impact, subject leaders will benefit from further 25 and 26 October 2023

p.2

3

opportunities to check, review and evaluate the implementation of their curriculum areas, such as by observing lessons. This would increase their ability to know and understand how well pupils are learning.

p.3

3

Staff ensure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can access the same curriculum as their peers. They continually share information with one another so that pupils always get the individual support they need. Effective support means that pupils can learn successfully alongside other pupils in lessons.

p.3

3

Pupils behave well around school. There is a caring ethos in the school. If pupils misbehave, other pupils are quick to tell staff. Pupils want respect and are keen to ensure that no pupil feels left out or picked on. Pupils feel they always have someone to turn to for help and advice. Pupils take advantage of the pastoral care that is available.

p.3

3

The carefully selected trips and extra-curriculum clubs support the taught curriculum. Pupils enjoy events such as boccia, curling and hand-goal tournaments that they take part in. A topic about the stone age allowed pupils in Years 3 and 4 to try their hand at making tools. Memories are created at Archbishop of York’s CofE Junior School that will last a lifetime.

p.3

3

Governors and the trust play a full part in the life and work of the school. They are determined to keep the school in the heart of the community. Individually, they bring a variety of skills and experiences. Collectively, they provide effective support and challenge to move the school forward.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In some subjects, the school is still making refinements to the curriculum. What, when and how pupils are to learn are not yet clearly set out. This means that, sometimes, learning does not build effectively on what pupils already know and can do. The school needs to ensure that the curriculum in every subject is clearly thought out. It should ensure that staff adhere to it consistently, so that pupils are able to reach their full potential in all curriculum subjects.  At present, subject leaders are limited in their ability to check, review and evaluate the implementation of their curriculum areas. They will benefit from further opportunities to check, review and evaluate the implementation of their curriculum areas, such as by observing lessons. This will allow them to play a more effective role in checking, reviewing and evaluating the school’s work in their subjects and in supporting school improvement.

p.3

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.

p.4

How can I feed back my views?

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

p.4

Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

p.4

Further information

In the report, 'disadvantaged pupils' is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 25 and 26 October 2023

p.4

School details

Dates of previous inspection Not previously inspected

p.5

Information about this school

 Archbishop of York’s CofE Junior School is part of the South York Multi-Academy Trust.  Archbishop of York’s CofE Junior School converted to become an academy in November 2018. When its predecessor school, Archbishop of York’s CofE Voluntary Controlled Junior School, Bishopthorpe, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be outstanding overall.  The school does not use alternative provision.  As the school is designated as having a religious character, it is inspected under section 48 of the Education Act 2005. The last section 48 inspection of the school was in December 2018. The timescales for reinspection have been extended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

p.5

Information about this inspection

The inspector(s) carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

p.5

Information about this inspection

Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education 25 and 26 October 2023

p.5

6

provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with leaders and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspectors conducted deep dives in the following subjects: reading, mathematics, physical education and history. The inspector met with curriculum leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  Meetings were held with the headteacher, governors, senior leaders, trustees, the chair of the trust, the special educational needs coordinator, subject leaders, teachers and a representative from the diocese.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive

p.6

6

culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The responses to Ofsted’s surveys for pupils, staff and parents were also considered.

p.6

Inspection team

Richard Jones, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

p.6

Inspection team

Nick Coates Ofsted Inspector 25 and 26 October 2023

p.6

7

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.

p.7

7

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

7

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

7

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

7

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7