Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school, alongside the trust, have prioritised the development of the curriculum and systems to support pupils' behaviour. However, it is early days.

Some pupils do not attend regularly enough to benefit from these developments. Pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged, do not recall the school's curriculum with increasing fluency.

Pupils know that adults will listen to any worries or concerns they may have.

They understand that the new school behaviour systems are fair. The 'I can and I will' celebration assemblies help pupils to develop their understanding of how to be a good learner.

Most pupils are well mannered and courteous.

They... like their teachers. They enjoy participating in events such as visits to the pantomime and performing in school productions. Pupils appreciate the roles and responsibilities they have such as eco-warriors and the well-being champions.

The wide range of after-school clubs helps pupils to participate in different sports, arts and musical activities. Where needed, the school ensures all pupils can access these activities.

Every week, children in the early years enjoy sharing a 'book and biscuit' with a family member.

This has helped some parents and carers to understand how to help their child at home.

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

The school has navigated a period of significant staffing and leadership changes. It is now in a more stable position.

Improvements to the school are now being secured. However, some of the school's shared values, policies and systems are not yet fully embedded.

The school, alongside the trust, has raised its expectations of what pupils can and should achieve.

Developments in the curriculum and in systems for supporting pupils' behaviour have been introduced. However, many of these developments are at the very early stages of being implemented. They have not yet made a meaningful impact on outcomes for the most disadvantaged pupils in school.

The recent revisions in the school's curriculum have ensured that there is a clear, logical order of knowledge that pupils must know and recall. It matches the breadth of the national curriculum. However, the curriculum is not implemented as the school intends.

Sometimes adults do not address misconceptions. At other times, the curriculum is not taught with accuracy. Adaptations to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are not consistent.

As a result, in some subjects, pupils find it more challenging to learn the curriculum. Where this is the case, pupils find it difficult to remember important knowledge and to talk about their learning.

Staff have received training to teach the school's early reading programme.

Most pupils learn to sound out unfamiliar words with increasing confidence. Children in the early years use this knowledge in their play. They confidently apply the sounds they learn in their independent writing.

Older pupils learn to read with more fluency. They are developing their knowledge of how to read and understand more complex texts. However, some disadvantaged pupils do not attend school regularly enough to benefit from the school's approach to reading.

Most pupils understand and respond well to the new expectations for behaviour. For some, it has supported them to regulate their behaviour successfully. Where needed, the school seeks advice from external agencies to meet the needs of some pupils.

Although there are early signs of improvement, further developments are required to ensure that all pupils, including the most disadvantaged, develop positive attitudes to learning and attendance.

Children in the early years get off to a strong start. Staff have a clear understanding of gaps in children's early development.

They adapt the learning environment and the curriculum to ensure these early gaps are addressed. For example, the mathematical provision has increased because checks indicated children's sense of number needed more development.

The school places a strong emphasis on fostering pupils' wider personal development.

Pupils' talents and interests are considered when developing this offer. They learn how to keep themselves physically and mentally healthy. They learn how to stay safe online.

Pupils respect and value different communities in society. They have a sense of equality and fairness. As one pupil commented, 'If people are treated differently, it is so they get the same as everyone else.'



Most staff enjoy working at this school. They recognise the recent improvements that have been made. They appreciate the training and development they receive from the trust.

Those responsible for governance support the school well and recognise the areas that need to improve.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• After a period of turbulence, leaders have set ambitious plans for pupils in school.

However, these ambitions are not yet fully realised. This means that not all pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged, reach their full potential and are not completely prepared for their next stage in education. The school must ensure that all pupils receive a high-quality education through strong, shared values, policies and systems.

New systems for promoting behaviour and attendance have been recently introduced. Many of these are not yet fully embedded which means some pupils have not yet fully benefited from these approaches. The school must ensure that it fully implements the new systems for attendance, behaviour and attitudes so they impact positively on pupil outcomes.

• The school's curriculum is implemented inconsistently. Sometimes staff do not address pupils' misconceptions. At other times, the curriculum is not taught with accuracy.

This limits the progress pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged, make. The school must make checks to ensure the curriculum is implemented as intended. It must ensure that all staff have the expertise to teach it.

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