St Thomas’s CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Skilled and aspirational leaders, including governors, have taken effective steps to raise pupils' achievement across the school. Staff provide a warm, welcoming and engaging environment.

All pupils are encouraged to follow the school's motto of 'Believe, achieve, succeed'. Staff have benefited from a carefully planned programme of professional development, which has improved their teaching skills. Leaders have designed a broad, balanced and engaging curriculum.

Staff plan a wide range of trips, visits and experiences which develop pupils' knowledge across different subjects. Leaders regularly check teaching and learning. However, this mo...nitoring sometimes misses identifying the gaps that pupils have in their learning.

Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make good progress due to the strong support that they receive. Pupils are making stronger progress in mathematics. However, in some classes, recent improvements in developing pupils' reasoning and problem-solving skills are not embedded.

Some lower-ability pupils do not develop sufficient fluency to be confident mathematicians. Pupils read with confidence and for pleasure. They develop a good understanding of what they read.

Pupils gain secure phonics knowledge and skills, which they use well to read and write accurately. Pupils write confidently for a range of different purposes. However, they sometimes lack accuracy when using their punctuation skills.

Staff are vigilant in ensuring pupils' safety and well-being. Pupils feel safe in school. The school's experienced inclusion team provides a wide range of support.

The early years provision is highly nurturing and purposeful. Staff plan interesting activities and experiences which ensure that children get off to a flying start. They are very well prepared for the challenges of Year 1.

Pupils' behaviour and personal development are excellent. They develop as caring and thoughtful individuals. Pupils achieve well in physical education (PE).

They keep very active and enjoy taking part in a wide range of activities and sport. Pupils are very proud of their school. They enjoy lessons and their attendance is above the national average.

Information about this school

This is a smaller-than-average sized primary school. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND support is above the national average.

The school has opened a Nursery provision since the previous inspection. As a school with a distinctive Christian ethos, the school was last subject to a Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) in November 2014. At that time, the school's distinctiveness and effectiveness as a Church of England school were judged to be good.