“The school is ambitious for all pupils”: Prestwood Junior School celebrates positive Ofsted report

“Pupils are welcomed warmly into this caring, inclusive and nurturing school. They are proud to be part of a community where the values of ‘SPARK: support; pride; achieve; respect; and kindness’ are evident in daily life’. Relationships between pupils and staff are positive and respectful. Staff know pupils well and provide attentive care. As a result, pupils feel safe, valued and supported. They know that adults will listen to them and help with any worries or concerns.”

This is one of the key findings in the latest Ofsted report for Prestwood Junior School, part of Great Learners Trust, which has been published today.

The school achieved the ‘Expected standard’ in five areas: Achievement, Curriculum and teaching, Inclusion, Leadership and governance, and Personal development and wellbeing. Inspectors also confirmed that safeguarding standards are met, meaning that the school has established “an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed”.

Inspectors visited Prestwood Junior School in July – and the ‘Expected standard’ judgement means that a school is “fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care” and following statutory and non-statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of it.

The report highlights the experience of children, with inspectors finding that “pupils enjoy coming to school”, “settle quickly into routines and are ready to learn”, with classrooms described as “calm and purposeful places where pupils work hard”. Pupils “achieve well overall”, “can talk confidently about their learning across a range of subjects”, and are “prepared successfully for the next stage of their education”. The school is described as having a “broad and ambitious curriculum”, its teachers have “high expectations”, while Prestwood Juniors “prioritises the development of pupils’ communication”.

Among the comments in the published report are that:

• “The majority of pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve well by the end of key stage 2” – also highlighting that “leaders’ actions have a positive impact on outcomes and opportunities for pupils.”
• “Leaders identify pupils’ needs promptly and ensure that support is put in place quickly. Detailed assessment and review processes enable staff to develop an accurate understanding of pupils’ strengths and barriers to learning. As a result, support is tailored effectively to individual needs and reviewed regularly to ensure that it remains effective and appropriate.”
• “Leaders share a firm ambition for all pupils to achieve their potential”, ”have established a culture in which pupils experience a well rounded and engaging education”, and “have developed a coherent and effective personal development programme that is supported by an established pastoral offer.”
• “Leaders are approachable and accessible. They work proactively to maintain positive relationships with parents and carers through clear communication and a visible presence within the school community.”
• “Trust leaders carry out regular reviews which give them a secure grasp of how well the school is performing. School leaders value the guidance and support provided by the trust”.

Inspectors also praised the breadth of opportunities available beyond the classroom. Pupils “develop independence and secure a sense of responsibility” through roles including school ambassadors, house captains and eco representatives, while educational visits and extra-curricular activities help broaden their experiences, confidence, talents and interests. These include choir, sporting competitions and drama productions, alongside clubs such as ‘Maths in Motion’, cricket, cookery and photography.

One area, Attendance and Behaviour, was assessed as ‘Needs attention’, specifically because attendance remains below national averages. Inspectors recognised that leaders have already established a strategy and clear processes to improve attendance, are working closely with families and external professionals, and that adaptations to support pupils experiencing attendance difficulties are “beginning to have a positive impact”. The school continues to refine this work to secure sustained improvement.

Importantly, the report makes clear that the judgement does not reflect concerns over pupils’ conduct. Inspectors found that pupils “display mature and respectful behaviour”, “eager to learn and behave well”, and “show respect for difference and understand the importance of treating others’ fairly”. They added that older pupils look out for younger peers and described an “orderly and positive atmosphere” throughout the school day.

Mike Smith, Executive Headteacher of Prestwood Junior School, commented: “We are pleased that the inspectors saw the nurturing nature of Prestwood Junior School and recognised the clear vision and values that we work hard to live and breathe every day. Our SPARK values – Support, Pride, Achieve, Respect and Kindness – are about much more than words on a wall. The National Curriculum gives children the knowledge, skills and understanding they need, but we also want to develop the character, confidence and self-belief that will set them up for life. Our aim is to give every child secure social and emotional foundations from which academic success can grow.

“Our mission is ultimately about enabling children to dream big and removing the barriers that might otherwise limit their ambitions. We want them to leave Prestwood believing that they can become whatever they want to be. It is therefore particularly rewarding that Ofsted recognised not only that pupils achieve well, but that they feel safe, valued and supported, enjoy coming to school and benefit from such a wide range of experiences and opportunities.

“Most importantly, this report reflects a huge team effort. Our colleagues, leadership team, SENCO, governors, Great Learners Trust colleagues, families and, of course, our pupils have all played their part. I am immensely proud of them, and we will continue building on these foundations to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive socially, emotionally and academically and develops the confidence to flourish in the world beyond Prestwood.”

Sarah Baber, CEO of Great Learners Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud of staff, pupils and families at Prestwood Junior School. This report captures so much of what makes the school special: a caring and nurturing culture, ambitious expectations for children, strong relationships and a commitment to ensuring that every pupil feels valued and supported.

“It is particularly pleasing to see inspectors recognise the strength of the school’s inclusive approach and the way staff identify and respond to individual needs. The report also reflects the close partnership between the school and Great Learners Trust, and the purposeful work that has taken place to strengthen teaching and continue driving improvement.

“Prestwood has strong foundations from which to continue developing, and everyone involved should be extremely proud of what this Ofsted report says about the education and experience children receive.”