St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Voluntary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a school that requires improvement Despite the leadership's substantial improvements to the quality of teaching, it is not consistently good.

The quality of teaching in key stage 1 is particularly variable. As a result, pupils' progress is not strong across year groups and subjects. Due to historical weaknesses in teaching, pupils have gaps in their learning.

As current pupils are not making consistently strong progress, too few reach the standard expected for their age. Leaders have improved the teaching of mathematics considerably. However, too often, pupils, especially the most able and those in key stage 1, receive work which is too easy.

...Additionally, the opportunities pupils have to develop their reasoning skills are limited. Pupils have insufficient opportunities to improve their writing. Teachers' expectations of pupils' writing in subjects other than English are not high enough.

As a result, pupils' progress in writing is not maximised. Leaders' plans for improvement lack precision and do not focus tightly on improvements to pupils' outcomes. This means that leaders, including governors, are not able to hold members of staff to account effectively for their work.

Leaders do not make rigorous and timely checks on the difference they have made to the quality of teaching in all priority areas. This includes the effective checking of teaching for disadvantaged pupils and for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils have mixed views on reading for pleasure.

Leaders have only been successful in motivating some pupils to read widely and often. Senior and middle leaders are not always taking sufficient responsibility for the curriculum areas they lead. They are often over-reliant on the headteacher or external bodies to lead improvements.

The school has the following strengths Leaders have worked very hard to improve pupils' attendance rates. Their rigour in this area has increased attendance so that it is now above average. Leaders place pupils' personal development at the heart of the school's work.

As a result, pupils are polite, responsible and confident. Leaders' work to foster pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is very effective. As a result, pupils show high levels of tolerance and empathy.

They are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Teaching in the early years is good. This ensures that children make strong progress.

Information about this school

St Joseph's RC Primary School, Todmorden, is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The school has a nursery with full-time places for children from the age of three. The school is designated as having a Roman Catholic character and is a part of the Diocese of Salford.

The last section 48 inspection took place in 2014. The school has received support from the Trinity Teaching School Alliance. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is almost double the national average.

Approximately a fifth of pupils speak English as an additional language. This is in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is average and the proportion with an education, health and care plan is below average.

Approximately three quarters of pupils are of White British heritage. Pupils also come from six other ethnic groups, including Asian or Asian British Pakistani and Asian or Asian British Bangladeshi. The school runs a breakfast club for pupils.