Margate, Holy Trinity and St John’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy attending this welcoming school.

They learn about teamwork in 'woodland school' and develop their wider interests in the clubs on offer. Staff value what pupils have to say. For example, pupils elected to the school council work with staff to make improvements to the school.

Pupils are happy and safe. Staff care for the welfare of the pupils deeply. A parent confirmed this when they said, 'The staff are welcoming, caring, encouraging and enthusiastic.'



Pupils live the values of the school. They behave well in class and at playtimes. They are caring towards each other and respectful of adults.

When bullying happens, staff deal ...with this swiftly and make sure that pupils learn how to improve their behaviour. As one pupil said, 'Teachers are kind here; if you are worried, they always help you.'

Pupils are keen to rise to the high expectations and ambitions that staff have for them.

Staff understand the interests and needs of the pupils. Staff support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in lessons and in the school's specialist resource provision well.

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

Leaders provide an ambitious curriculum.

Although pupils in Year 6 did not achieve well in reading, writing and mathematics in 2022, leaders have taken swift and decisive action to refine the curriculum design and improve pupils' achievement. Most subject leaders support teachers well. Leaders deliver training and provide support to strengthen teachers' subject-specific knowledge.

However, in a few subjects, the knowledge and skills that pupils need to learn are not identified precisely enough, and teachers are not always clear about what they should teach and when. As a result, in some subjects, pupils sometimes develop gaps in their knowledge and do not achieve as well as they could.

Teachers are keen for their pupils to succeed.

They adapt their teaching to make sure that all pupils can access what is being learned. Adults identify the needs of pupils with SEND well. Children with SEND in the early years are supported adeptly in class to access learning alongside their peers.

Throughout the school, teachers provide pupils with helpful resources to enable them to make sense of what they learn. In most subjects, for example reading, mathematics and religious education, teachers check what pupils know in lessons and over time. They question pupils skilfully and review what pupils know.

Teachers use this information to adjust what they teach. However, this is not the case in all subjects. There is still some inconsistency in how well teachers check pupils' understanding, but leaders are rightly addressing this where needed.

Pupils develop a love of reading and use their mathematical skills well. The sequence of learning from early years to Year 6 in mathematics is suitably ambitious. Teachers encourage pupils to apply their mathematical and reading knowledge across a wide range of subjects.

Children in the early years learn phonics successfully using a precise programme. Pupils develop vocabulary and comprehension through reading carefully selected texts. Teachers encourage pupils to read frequently.

For example, older pupils receive awards for reading at home. This creates an enthusiasm for reading in pupils. Effective support for pupils who have fallen behind with their reading helps them to catch up quickly.

Pupils grow into responsible and respectful citizens. They are considerate of difference in others. Pupils are keen to attend clubs offered by the school.

They learn about democracy and the rule of law and create their own class rules. Staff support the social and emotional needs of pupils well. Pupils experience a range of visits and visitors to the school.

For example, pupils have met with representatives from local emergency services and enjoy their trips to the local church.

Leaders create a calm and purposeful approach to learning. They have recently reviewed their approach to how staff support pupils' behaviour.

This has made a positive impact on the culture in the school. Strong systems support pupils' emotional well-being effectively. This helps pupils to learn how to manage their feelings and to remain focused in lessons.

When pupils' behaviour is more challenging, staff respond in a clear and consistent manner.

Leaders and governors work well together to continue to improve the school. The recent changes made to the structure of the leadership team have strengthened the school.

Leaders engage well with staff. For example, the 'workload review committee' is made up of representatives of all staff groups. This makes sure staff have the time needed to manage their workload well.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders ensure that staff receive timely and helpful training in keeping pupils safe. This helps staff to identify pupils at risk of harm quickly.

When a concern is raised, leaders work swiftly to put support in place for children and families who need help. Leaders and governors check that the procedures for safeguarding in school are followed through carefully.

Pupils learn about staying safe.

They learn about how to behave online and what to do if they feel unsafe. They are confident that they can speak to a trusted adult in the school if they have a worry.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, leaders have not identified the curriculum sequence precisely enough.

This means that teachers are not always clear what they have to teach and when they need to teach it. Leaders need to ensure that there is a clearly sequenced curriculum for all subjects that identifies the precise knowledge that pupils need to learn, right from the start of early years to the end of Year 6. ? In some subjects, teachers do not check how well pupils are learning the intended curriculum.

They are not clear about gaps in pupils' knowledge, and do not address these before moving on to new learning. As a result, pupils do not always achieve as well as they could. Leaders need to ensure that teachers use assessment effectively in all subjects to support pupils to develop their understanding and to achieve well across the curriculum.