Ardleigh Green Junior School

Inspection of Ardleigh Green Junior School Ardleigh Green Road, Hornchurch, Essex RM11 2SP

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Inspection dates: 13 and 14 December 2023

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

Ofsted has not previously inspected Ardleigh Green Junior School under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. However, Ofsted previously judged Ardleigh Green Junior School (Ardleigh Green Learning Federation) to be outstanding, before it opened as Ardleigh Green Junior School as a result of conversion to academy status.

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The headteacher of this school is Janelle Johnson. This school is part of Empower Learning 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, Simon London, and overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by Keith Butcher. 13 and 14 December 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

There is a warm welcome from staff and pupils at Ardleigh Green. This is a lively and happy community where ‘everyone grows’. Pupils are enthusiastic about their learning and take great pride in their school. Their behaviour in lessons and around the school is exemplary. Parents and carers praise the care that staff at all levels provide for pupils.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff have high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils live up to these expectations. They are eager to learn and consistently produce work of high quality. Pupils are confident communicators who show great curiosity about the world. They achieve highly.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The new leadership team continues to champion the school’s strong ethos and values. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and respectful. Pupils look forward to singing assemblies, which contribute to the strong sense of belonging and community that leaders have established. Pupils feel safe and supported. They know that staff take care of them.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy coming to school and attend well. Pupils are encouraged to celebrate their own and others’ achievements, which helps them to grow in confidence.

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better?

The school has recently undergone changes in leadership and management. Staff, parents and governors are effusive in their praise for how these changes have been managed. There is a close and collaborative relationship between the infant and junior schools. Many staff work across both schools. This helps to ensure continuity in pupils’ learning and a smooth transition for pupils joining the junior school.

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better?

There is a rich and ambitious curriculum that matches, and, in some subjects, exceeds, the aims of the national curriculum. It has been carefully designed so that there is a clear progression of knowledge and skills. Teachers have excellent subject knowledge and are skilled in supporting pupils to build a depth of knowledge in each subject over time.

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better?

In lessons, teachers make sure that pupils are secure in their learning before moving on. Pupils are familiar with the ‘rewind’ activity, for example where they recap what they have learned previously. This helps to ensure that pupils have the knowledge they need to attempt more complex tasks. For example, in computing, pupils first secure their knowledge of sequencing before going on to learn about algorithms. The curriculum has also been designed to help pupils make connections in their learning. For example, as part of ‘science week’, pupils learn about real-life experiences of working in the science industries.

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better?

Staff skilfully adapt teaching so that pupils with SEND access the same ambitious learning opportunities as their peers. Pupils who need additional support are 13 and 14 December 2023

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identified quickly and given the help they need. For example, in physical education, some pupils receive additional support to develop their technique in sports such as archery. This helps these pupils to achieve the same high outcomes as their peers.

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Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to learning are exceptional. They approach new tasks with enthusiasm. Pupils know what is expected of them and work to achieve this. Pupils are kind and considerate and are quick to help each other in lessons. Bullying is rare. Where it occurs, it is dealt with promptly.

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Reading is celebrated across the school. Pupils enjoy daily story time and independent reading. Pupils typically described reading as ‘a treat not a chore’. They look forward to choosing from the recommended reading lists and ‘special bookshelves’. There are clear systems for checking pupils’ reading knowledge when they join the school. Pupils who need extra support are prioritised. As a result, they quickly become confident and fluent readers.

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The same high ambition is reflected for pupils’ personal development. Pupils are taught how to be responsible, global citizens. They find out about how to make safe choices online and they build a deep knowledge about the digital world. Pupils develop their leadership skills through roles such as ‘play leaders’ and ‘reading buddies’. There is high take-up of the rich and varied opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interests.

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Staff are proud to work here and are highly valued. Staff well-being is a priority for leaders at all levels. Those responsible for governance work closely with leaders to support their vision for continued improvement.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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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 ’ 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 13 and 14 December 2023

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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). 13 and 14 December 2023

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School details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this school

 The school is part of the Empower Learning Trust.  Ardleigh Green Junior School converted to become an academy in December 2022. When its predecessor school, Ardleigh Green Junior School (Ardleigh Green Learning Federation) was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be outstanding.  The headteacher took up post in September 2023. The headteacher was previously the head of school.  The school does not 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

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision. 13 and 14 December 2023

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 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics, physical education, computing. For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. Inspectors also discussed the curriculum in some other subjects.  Inspectors met with school leaders, the chief executive officer of the trust, members of the local governing committee and a representative of the local authority.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and

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considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  Inspectors considered responses to Ofsted’s online surveys for parents, staff and pupils.

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Inspection team

Polly Haste, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Eleanor Ross His Majesty’s Inspector 13 and 14 December 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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