A Warm Welcome

to

Thomas Harding Junior School.

We are so very proud to welcome you to our school website and to thank you for your interest in Thomas Harding Junior School.

We are all immensely proud of our school and the strength of our incredibly diverse community of children, parents, staff and governors. We work together to ensure that every child is cared for, nurtured and respected, providing an environment where all children can flourish and achieve their very best.

At Thomas Harding, children are at the heart of everything we do. As recognised in our most recent Ofsted inspection, "Pupils feel proud to belong to their caring school community. They enjoy coming to school each day and value the opportunities that this brings." (Ofsted, May 2026). Staff know pupils well and create a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

We follow a growth mindset approach to learning and offer a rich and ambitious curriculum that enables every child to succeed. Our curriculum is underpinned by our ASPIRE values(Aspiration, Success, Pride, Integrity, Resilience and Equality) and has been carefully designed to meet the needs of our children. We continually review and enrich our curriculum to ensure that it remains relevant, engaging and inspiring.

Ofsted recognised that leaders have designed "an ambitious and broad curriculum" which helps pupils "build knowledge step by step" and prepares them well for the next stage of their education (Ofsted, May 2026).

Reading is a priority, opportunities are carefully planned to broaden children's experiences, and staff work hard to ensure that every pupil can access the full curriculum and wider life of the school.

We take a holistic approach to education and are committed to developing the whole child. Academic achievement is important, but so too are character, wellbeing and personal development. Ofsted found that, "Leaders place pupils' wellbeing at the centre of their work," and that pupils learn about fairness, equality and respect, developing the confidence and independence they need to thrive in modern Britain (Ofsted, May 2026).

Our highly skilled and committed staff team always puts children first and strives for excellence in everything they do. We encourage our children to become confident, independent learners who understand that success comes through effort, practice and resilience and that mistakes are an important part of learning. We want every child to leave Thomas Harding as a responsible, caring and successful young person who is fully prepared for secondary school and beyond.

Inclusion is central to our ethos. Ofsted judged the school's provision for Inclusion to be of a Strong Standard, recognising the high expectations leaders have for all pupils and the effective support provided for those who need additional help. The report highlights that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, disadvantaged pupils, and those facing barriers to learning are supported to participate fully in school life and achieve well.

We know that successful education is built on strong relationships with families. We actively encourage parents and carers to be involved in their children's learning and value the positive partnerships we develop with our community. Ofsted noted that"Parents and carers speak very positively about the school. They value the welcoming environment, clear communication and the care leaders show for their children." (Ofsted, May 2026).

Visitors frequently comment on the warm atmosphere around the school and the kindness and respect shown by our pupils. As Ofsted found,"Pupils behave well. They treat each other with kindness and respect. Pupils know whom to speak to if they feel worried, which helps them feel safe." (Ofsted, May 2026).

We are immensely proud of Thomas Harding Junior School. We are a vibrant, inclusive and ambitious community where children are encouraged to aspire, achieve and become the very best versions of themselves.

Please take the time to explore our website. I hope it gives you a flavour of life at Thomas Harding and an insight into what we value for our children and in our children. I would be delighted to show you around our wonderful school, so please contact the school office if you would like to arrange a visit.

Mrs J Butler - Interim Headteacher

and

Mrs S Ruddell - Headteacher (Maternity Leave)