Riders Junior School in Havant receives 'requires improvement' following Ofsted inspection

Riders Junior School, located in Kingsclere Avenue, Havant, has received a ‘requires improvement’ Ofsted rating following its recent inspection which took place on May 21 and 22, 2024. The inspection found that the school has made progress since Ofsted’s last visit but there is still a way to go for it to become a ‘good’ school.

The report, which was published on June 25, outlined that ‘personal development’ is a key strength within the school as well as its pastoral care which has been described as ‘impressive’. The education setting offers a ‘nurturing’ gardening club and a range of mental health and well-being services to ensure that pupils have access to appropriate support. ‘Pupils learn to be responsible citizens through a diverse offer of extracurricular experiences’.

The report said: “This is a caring and inclusive school. The vision of ‘standing together with our community to unlock opportunity and secure achievement for all’ reflects aspiration for everyone. Pupils are happy and welcoming. They feel valued and know how well the school keeps them safe.

“At the last inspection, teachers sometimes lacked subject knowledge to teach the curriculum successfully. This has improved as a result of effective support from leaders. The school has developed its approach to help pupils to practise and recall essential knowledge better.

“Pupils do not achieve well enough, including the very high proportions of disadvantaged pupils. While behaviour has improved for many, expectations for learning behaviour are not always high. Lessons can be disrupted by pupils who are less motivated to learn.”

The report continued to state that the curriculum is well thought out but sometimes the ‘quality of teaching is not always consistent’. Reading has been prioritisied which helps students to feel more positive about books and there is a diverse collection of reading material in the school library. The safeguarding measures are effective and there is a strong culture of keeping children safe within the education setting.

The report added: “At the time of the last inspection, there had been turbulence with leadership. That uncertainty continued until recently, further affecting the quality of education. However, current leaders are now driving some successful improvements.

“Phonics teaching and reading support are not consistently strong. As a result, too many pupils struggle to read with accuracy, confidence and comprehension. The school must ensure that support for weaker readers is consistently effective to help them catch up and read fluently by the end of Year 6.”

“Leaders are committed, compassionate and reflective. They care deeply about the school community, and their focussed efforts are beginning to have positive impact. Governors provide suitable support and fulfil statutory duties with diligence. Despite uncertainty over leadership in recent years, staff feel highly supported and are proud of their school. They value how recent curriculum and pastoral improvements are benefiting pupils.”

For more information about the Ofsted for Riders Junior School, click here.