This is a much larger-sized junior school than the average. Two thirds of pupils represent about 18 ethnic groups, though this can vary slightly from year to year. Currently, the three largest groups are those pupils from Other White, Black African and White British heritages. Over half of the pupils on roll speak English as an additional language. Many of them are in the early stages of learning English. The proportion of pupils with special educational needs is average. Over four fifths of the pupils on roll are disadvantaged and in receipt of the pupil premium funding. This proportion is much larger than the national average. The grant is used to support pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children looked after by the local authority. The school meets the government’s current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils’ attainment and progress in mathematics, reading and writing. The school works with a number of partners, including secondary and primary schools. For example, Year 6 pupils attend master classes for Level 6 attainment at Bishop Stopford’s secondary and its teachers come to this school to give lessons, for example in drama. They also advise the junior school teachers. A working relationship with Carterhatch Infant School enables teachers in both schools to work effectively on pupils’ transition from the infant to the junior school. Other partnerships include The Town Partnership, working on various projects with local schools, for example looking for ways to save money through economies of scale. The school participates in the Schools Direct programme with The Bowes Teaching Alliance (an outstanding school) and the University of Middlesex. The headteacher works with a group of schools judged to require improvement, to arrange help and support.