Ladymount Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at Ladymount are very proud of their school. They enjoy the warm welcome that they receive from staff each morning. Pupils have strong relationships with staff.

This makes them feel well cared for and also confident to share their feelings and thoughts.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They are exceptionally well-mannered and courteous to adults and to one another.

Pupils know how important it is to treat everyone in the same way. They are kind and welcoming to pupils who are new to the school. Pupils have a very well-developed sense of right and wrong.

They are confident to speak up when they need to do so.

Pupils know that the school... has high expectations of their learning. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.

They are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Pupils benefit greatly from an impressive range of rich experiences that go beyond the academic curriculum. This helps them to develop as rounded young people.

For example, pupils are kept well-informed about national and global events. This enables pupils to share their views confidently and listen to different opinions.

Older pupils make a valuable contribution to the school through their leadership responsibilities.

Prefects, play leaders and house captains support staff in the smooth running of the school day.

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

Most subject curriculums are very well-developed. They are ambitious and have been carefully thought-out.

These curriculums identify what pupils are expected to know by the end of each topic. This enables teachers to use their secure subject knowledge to design learning that helps pupils to learn all that they should know. Staff regularly check how well pupils are learning what has been taught.

They address misconceptions quickly. As a result, pupils achieve well.

In contrast, a small number of subject curriculums do not indicate what pupils should learn.

This means that teachers do not have the information that they need to make sure that pupils learn the full breadth of the national curriculum. This results in some pupils having gaps in their learning. While the early curriculum is well designed, it does not, at times, have the full impact on children's learning.

This is because some of the activities that children complete do not help them to learn all that they should in readiness for Year 1.

The school prioritises the teaching of early reading. Children in the Reception class enjoy choosing their own books to read in the cosy reading corner.

They enjoy learning new vocabulary through the books that their teachers read to them. Children are then able to use these words in their own writing.Pupils in key stage 1, and children in the Reception class, progress well through the school's phonics programme.

They use their phonics knowledge to read books that are carefully matched to the sounds that they know. Pupils who need additional help are given suitable support to help them to keep up with the programme. As pupils move through the school, they become fluent readers.

They enjoy reading and can talk easily about their favourite authors.

The school identifies the needs of pupils with SEND quickly. The school ensures that staff are well-trained to support pupils with SEND.

This enables appropriate adaptations to be made to activities so that these pupils can learn alongside their peers. The school liaises with the local authority and outside specialists to ensure that pupils with SEND receive appropriate help. This helps pupils with SEND to achieve well.

The school places a very strong emphasis on pupils' personal development. This ensures that pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils have an impressive understanding of fundamental British values, for example, liberty and democracy.

They are aware of the ways in which people are different. One example of this is the way in which pupils discuss different types of families with exceptional maturity.

Pupils take advantage of an exciting array of clubs.

These include football, fencing and Mandarin. Pupils especially enjoy taking part in sporting and choir competitions. The school is particularly accomplished at singing.

In addition, pupils are given lots of opportunities to experience the arts. Visits to museums, the theatre and an orchestra all help to ignite pupils' enthusiasm for art and music. All pupils in key stage 2 learn to play a tuned instrument.

This has inspired some pupils to continue by playing in a regular ensemble.

Pupils' attitudes to learning are exemplary. This includes children in the early years who are often engrossed in their learning.

Across school, pupils try their best. They listen intently to their teachers and they enjoy working together with one another. Pupils are highly respectful of one another.

The atmosphere in school is calm and focused.

The school invests in developing its staff. This includes ensuring that staff receive the training that they need to teach with confidence and expertise.

Governors know the school well. They offer support and challenge to help the school to continually improve.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority) ? In a small number of subjects, the school has not ensured that teachers have all the information that they need to make sure pupils learn the full breadth of the national curriculum. This means that some pupils develop gaps in their learning. The school should ensure that in these subjects, pupils are able to learn all that they should.

• At times, in some areas of learning, the activities that children complete do not help them to learn all that they should. This prevents a few from being as well prepared as they could be for key stage 1. The school should ensure that staff receive the training that they need to deliver the early years curriculum consistently well.

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