Emmaus Church of England and Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), thrive at this wonderful school. They live up to the school's high expectations and excel in their learning and wider development. Pupils achieve highly across the curriculum.

They feel safe at the school because of staff's expert support.

Pupils learn to treat other people how they want to be treated themselves. They develop an exceptional understanding of the causes and impact of world issues, such as religious and racial conflict.

Pupils' understanding does not happen by chance. It is a direct result of the school's innovative curriculum thinking.

Pupils are calm an...d show high levels of self control, such as when they move along the corridors.

In classrooms too, pupils' behaviour is of a high standard.

Pupils widen their knowledge from the rich diet of extra opportunities that the school provides. For example, the school helps as many pupils as possible to appreciate French culture and language, including by spending time at a 16th-century French chateau.

Pupils also learn to ski in the mountains of north-west Italy.

Pupils' strength of character and their achievements are celebrated in many original ways by the school. For instance, the governing body awards an annual 'governor cup' to the Year 6 pupil most nominated by the staff team for their exceptional conduct.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Over the 16 years since the school was last inspected, pupils have continued to achieve exceptionally well. This is due to the school's rich, well-considered academic curriculum and enrichment programme. This is in addition to its unwavering determination to continue to improve.

Pupils feel at ease at school and follow the school rules closely. Children currently in the early years and pupils in key stages 1 and 2 achieve highly across curriculum subjects. They build the deep knowledge that they need to achieve their future aspirations.

For instance, to be a linguist, mathematician, writer, historian or scientist.

At the core of the school's success is its explicit and careful focus on values such as wisdom, perseverance, justice and forgiveness. The school is a shining beacon in how it teaches pupils that similarities between people are more important than their differences.

Pupils develop a deep understanding of difficult yet important topics, such as Liverpool's role in the slave trade. They also learn to be proud of the cultural legacy of some of the city's most famous citizens, including The Beatles: John, Paul, George and Ringo. Pupils are incredibly respectful and leave the school exceptionally well prepared to be responsible British citizens.

The school learns from educational research, training and examples of successful education at other schools. Staff use their significant and substantial knowledge of subject curriculums adeptly to teach pupils. The school makes certain that pupils understand and remember essential concepts and topics in depth and breadth.

In the Reception Year, the school has created beautiful classrooms that entice children to join learning activities. Staff have designed a carefully crafted curriculum in the early years, matched to children's needs, development and interests. Staff help children expertly to think, talk and be active.

Children develop a first-rate knowledge of important information on which to build for the rest of their lives.

The school strives to provide each pupil with the best standard of education. It draws on its wealth of expertise to identify the needs of pupils with SEND early and accurately.

Staff assess pupils' knowledge and adapt the delivery of the curriculum when needed. Staff support pupils with SEND skilfully to access the same aspirational curriculum as other pupils. Pupils with SEND feel included at the school.

They experience the joy of success and make exceptional strides forward in their learning.

Staff are experts at teaching phonics. Pupils, including those with SEND, who may find reading more difficult, receive the targeted help that they need.

Pupils secure the basics of reading in their memory quickly and securely. This enables them to read fluently and to access the richness of other parts of the school's curriculum.

Staff inspire pupils' interest in reading.

Pupils understand the complex concepts in the stories that staff read to them. They know the works of a diverse range of authors. Pupils talk in depth about a wide range of high-quality literature and different subjects using the essential technical language that they have learned.

Pupils become highly competent talkers, readers and writers.

The governing body uses its substantial expertise to review, challenge and support the work of the school. Leaders provide staff with the support, training and time that they need to do their jobs exceptionally well.

Staff delight in working at the school. Leaders and staff ensure that pupils receive a remarkable education.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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