Beechwood Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils embody the HEART values of honesty, effort, achievement, respect and teamwork across the school. The values are deeply understood by pupils and underpin the positive behaviour and nurturing relationships throughout the school. Pupils are highly engaged in their learning.

They appreciate the wide range of opportunities available to them within and beyond the curriculum. These experiences help them to develop new skills, discover interests and think about their futures.

The school has high expectations for pupils' achievement.

These expectations were not met in the published outcomes for 2024. The school has strengthened the curriculum that pupils, parti...cularly disadvantaged pupils, experience. As a result, pupils achieve well across a range of subjects.

Pupils enjoy coming to school and are positive about their experiences here. The oldest pupils in the school are excellent role models for their younger peers. They take pride in leadership roles, such as being reading buddies and lunchtime assistants.

Pupils in Year 6 recall how they aspired to these positions when they first joined the school. Pupils relish the many enrichment opportunities that help to bring their learning alive. These include a much-anticipated residential visit to Stubbington.

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

The school provides an ambitious and well-structured curriculum across all subjects. Working closely with the trust, the school has carefully considered when and how pupils learn key knowledge. This ensures progression as pupils move through the school.

Staff accurately identify and support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They make appropriate adaptations to the curriculum and support pupils to achieve well.

Teaching typically supports pupils to learn the important content.

Staff use secure subject knowledge to clearly explain the key knowledge that pupils need to learn. Tasks are carefully designed so that pupils have sufficient time to practise new skills. Pupils benefit from opportunities to revisit and build on what they have already learned.

In some subjects, staff's checks on pupils' understanding inform future teaching. However, in other subjects, this practice is not as well developed. This means that gaps in pupils' recall are not identified and addressed as effectively as they could be.

Published outcomes for pupils' mathematics and reading attainment in 2024 were significantly lower than the national average. The school has taken effective action to address this by prioritising further strengthening the curriculums in these subjects. As a result of the significant improvements to the teaching of English and mathematics, pupils are making rapid gains in their learning.

Pupils confidently demonstrate a secure understanding across different subjects. This is reflected in pupils' articulate discussions and age-appropriate written work.The school helps pupils to develop a wide range of reading skills.

Staff support pupils to read and enjoy diverse and engaging texts. Pupils who struggle with reading receive effective and timely support so that they develop fluency and accuracy in their reading.

Pupils reflect the school's high expectations of behaviour.

Older pupils encourage and reward calm movement through the school, for example as classes leave assembly. At lunchtimes, pupils enthusiastically help to manage routines and equipment. Pupils focus well and work hard in their lessons.

The school takes a proactive and personalised approach to promoting attendance. As a result, there has been a reduction in the number of pupils who frequently miss school.

The school has a robust approach to promoting pupils' personal development.

The curriculum places a strong emphasis on teaching pupils how to stay safe. This prepares them for staying safe online and in the community. Pupils demonstrate a secure understanding of the importance of equality.

They embrace diversity within the school. Pupils also enjoy learning about different cultures. They are mindful of the perspectives of others when expressing their opinions.

Trustees work effectively with the school to hold it to account for the quality of education that pupils receive. The school has a clear focus on staff and pupils' well-being. Staff value the professional development they receive at the school.

They are supportive of the changes that the school has made to improve pupils' learning. Parents and carers are also positive about the school, particularly regarding the care and attention it gives to their children.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some foundation subjects, the checks made on pupils' learning do not identify when pupils are fully secure with prior learning before they move on to new content. This means that pupils may not understand concepts securely. The school should ensure that checks made on pupils' understanding identify and address their misconceptions and gaps effectively across all subjects.

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