What Ofsted Say?
What Ofsted Says About Our Curriculum
An Outstanding Curriculum Across The BJS Federation
At The BJS Federation of Schools, we are incredibly proud of the ambitious, carefully designed curriculum experienced by our children from the moment they join us.
Our curriculum is built on the belief that every child, regardless of their starting point, background or individual needs, should experience an exceptional education. We want our children to develop deep knowledge, curiosity, confidence and a genuine love of learning, while being given opportunities that broaden their horizons and inspire them to be ambitious about their futures.
The strength of our shared Federation approach has been independently recognised by Ofsted. In 2024, both Jessop Primary School and Bonneville Primary School were judged Outstanding overall, with the Quality of Education judged Outstanding at both schools.
The reports provide powerful recognition of the quality, ambition and impact of the curriculum developed across our Federation.
An Ambitious and Carefully Designed Curriculum
At Jessop, inspectors recognised the ambition of our curriculum and the high expectations we have for every child:
“The curriculum is meticulously designed and ambitious for all pupils.”
Ofsted, Jessop Primary School, January 2024
Inspectors went on to describe Jessop’s curriculum as:
“detailed, highly ambitious and goes beyond what is expected nationally.”
Ofsted, Jessop Primary School, January 2024
At Bonneville, inspectors similarly identified the curriculum as being central to the school’s exceptional success:
“A major feature of the school’s success is its curriculum.”
Ofsted, Bonneville Primary School, May 2024
Ofsted recognised that the strength of the curriculum lies not simply in what we teach, but in the care with which learning is planned and delivered:
“The curriculum is deliberately set out and implemented with fine attention to detail.”
Ofsted, Bonneville Primary School, May 2024
Building Knowledge That Lasts
Across our Federation, we carefully consider what children need to know, when they need to learn it and how their knowledge will develop over time.
At Bonneville, Ofsted recognised that important knowledge and skills are logically sequenced, enabling children to revisit and embed key concepts before applying and connecting their learning across the curriculum.
This approach enables children to build increasingly sophisticated knowledge and understanding as they progress through school.
At Jessop, inspectors similarly found that:
“The school has identified precisely what it expects all pupils to learn and when.”
Ofsted, Jessop Primary School, January 2024
This begins in the Early Years and continues throughout children’s primary education, ensuring that each stage of learning provides strong foundations for what comes next.
Highly Skilled Teachers
An excellent curriculum requires excellent teaching.
Our Federation invests significantly in developing the expertise of our staff. Teachers collaborate across our three schools, learn from one another and benefit from high-quality professional development led by subject specialists and experienced leaders.
Ofsted recognised this particularly strongly at Jessop:
“Teachers are highly skilled in delivering the curriculum.”
Ofsted, Jessop Primary School, January 2024
Inspectors also highlighted teachers’ strong subject knowledge and recognised that the regular, high-quality training provided by subject experts across the Federation enables teachers to help pupils know more and remember more.
This is a particularly important recognition of the strength of our Federation model: expertise is not confined to one classroom or one school. We share it!
Ambitious for Every Child
Inclusion sits at the heart of our curriculum.
We do not believe that a child’s background, starting point or additional needs should determine the limits of their education. Our ambition is for every child.
At Jessop, Ofsted specifically recognised that the curriculum is ambitious for pupils with SEND and that:
“all pupils, including those with SEND, are nurtured to be confident learners.”
Ofsted, Jessop Primary School, January 2024
At Bonneville, inspectors found that pupils with SEND are carefully identified and receive the support they need to succeed. They also recognised the carefully chosen approaches used to support children who speak English as an additional language.
This reflects an important principle across The BJS Federation: equity does not mean lowering expectations; it means providing children with the right support to achieve them.
A Culture of Reading
Reading is fundamental to children’s success and is given the highest priority across our schools.
At Bonneville, inspectors found:
“The school has created a strong culture for reading.”
Ofsted, Bonneville Primary School, May 2024
At Jessop, Ofsted similarly recognised the school’s strong emphasis on language and a love of reading, noting the careful selection of books, mapped vocabulary development and meticulous leadership of phonics.
Our aim is not simply for children to learn how to read. We want them to become confident, fluent and enthusiastic readers who use reading to unlock learning across the entire curriculum.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
We believe an exceptional curriculum extends far beyond lessons.
Trips, residentials, music, sport, the arts, leadership opportunities, visitors, performances and enrichment experiences are deliberately planned to complement children’s academic learning and broaden their understanding of the world.
At Jessop, Ofsted found that:
“The extensive range of wider experiences is carefully planned to enhance pupils’ learning.”
Ofsted, Jessop Primary School, January 2024
Inspectors also recognised that children’s talents are identified and nurtured and that pupils are encouraged to explore new possibilities.
At Bonneville, inspectors described the range of personal development opportunities as “exceptional” and recognised that these opportunities are seamlessly intertwined throughout the curriculum.
These experiences are not an optional extra. They are an important part of the education we believe every child deserves.
Excellence Across Our Federation
The findings from two separate Outstanding inspections provide powerful external validation of the curriculum approach we have developed across The BJS Federation.
At Bonneville, Ofsted concluded that the school’s success is:
“rooted in the high-quality curriculum design and delivery.”
Ofsted, Bonneville Primary School, May 2024
At Jessop, inspectors recognised that the Federation itself strengthens continuous school improvement and highlighted the high-quality professional development provided by subject experts working across our schools.
Together, these findings reflect what we see every day: an ambitious, inclusive and carefully sequenced curriculum, delivered by skilled and committed staff, which enables our children to flourish.
Our Commitment
Across Bonneville, Jessop and Stockwell, we will continue to develop and strengthen our shared curriculum so that every child:
knows more • remembers more • experiences more • achieves more
Our ambition remains simple but uncompromising:
An exceptional education for every child, in every school, every day.
We look forward to finding out what Ofsted say about our Curriculum at Stockwell!
