Ofsted inspectors visited this primary school and gave these judgements
“The school’s reading curriculum is a clear strength”
East Boldon Junior School has been judged to be at a strong or expected standard in all areas following its latest Ofsted inspection.
Inspectors judged the school to be at a strong standard for achievement, curriculum and teaching, and personal development and well being, and at the expected standard for attendance and behaviour, inclusion, and leadership and governance.
No one-word overall judgement is now given to schools with, instead, a traffic light report card given ranging from blue (exceptional), dark green (strong standard), light green (expected standard), amber (needs attention) to red which indicates urgent improvement is needed.
Lead inspector Hannah Millett was fulsome in her praise of the school’s curriculum, its delivery by the teaching staff, and the subsequent “impressive outcomes”.
She said: “Teachers expertly develop pupils’ core skills in reading, writing, mathematics and communication. The school’s reading curriculum is a clear strength, carefully designed to support all pupils to succeed and staff share their expertise in teaching fluency and comprehension with other schools.
“Pupils’ work demonstrates their secure grasp of lesson content and this is illustrated in the confidence with which pupils are able to apply their knowledge in a variety of different ways.
“Pupils leave the school confident and accomplished learners, more than ready to start their secondary education.”
Ms Millett also commended the school on its holistic development of its children through its “effective” personal development and wellbeing programme.
She said: “High-quality pastoral care underpins the personal development programme and pupils all undertake an externally provided six-week mental health programme.
“This uses interactive storytelling to help children understand, talk about and manage their mental health. They learn happily alongside one another in a caring and stimulating environment.”
The school’s attendance was identified as being in line with national averages and with a “happy, purposeful atmosphere” in lessons.
Inspectors also praised the school for being “highly inclusive” where “all pupils feel welcome and supported”.
The report also commended the school’s provision for disadvantaged children and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Inspectors said: “Leaders use additional funding well to support disadvantaged pupils. These pupils receive targeted guidance and intervention, helping them to achieve more over time.
“ As a result, the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers continues to close. Pupils involved with social care benefit from highly effective multi-agency working and the school coordinates this effectively, ensuring all professionals collaborate to improve pupils’ outcomes.”
Ms Millett described how the school’s leaders know their school well, and always “place pupils’ interests at the centre of decision-making”.