Our Lady of Lourdes RC School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school because : Pupils enjoy learning. They make good progress, sometimes better, in reading and mathematics, and achieve well.

Following a small dip in attainment in 2014, pupils in Years 1 and 2 now make good progress from their starting points, with increasing proportions reaching national standards. By Year 6, attainment is often above that expected for their age. This has been the case for some years.

Teaching is good, particularly in Years 5 and 6. Pupils' progress is regularly monitored and information is used quickly to address any underachievement. Strong leadership from the new headteacher and a highly effective leadership team are ke...y strengths.

Their well-focused leadership has helped to ensure that good-quality teaching, achievement and behaviour have continued to flourish. Provision in the early years is good. Children settle quickly in Reception.

They make good progress as a result of consistently good teaching, a curriculum tailored to their needs and good, effective care and support. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good and contributes well to pupils' learning. Pupils feel safe.

Behaviour is good and at times is exemplary. The respect they show to each other and to adults makes a very positive contribution to this harmonious and successful school. Safeguarding arrangements are extremely thorough and contribute well to pupils' learning.

Governors have a good knowledge of the school and use their skills to challenge the school to continue to improve still further. It is not yet an outstanding school because : There is not enough teaching that is typically outstanding to ensure pupils make as much progress in writing as they do in reading and mathematics. Marking of pupils' work is not fully consistent or effective in helping pupils to learn.

Senior leaders need to provide more opportunities to share the most effective practice in order to further improve the quality of teaching.

Information about this school

Our Lady of Lourdes is smaller than an average-sized primary school. The majority of pupils are from White British backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and of those who speak English as an additional language is below average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is above average. The number of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium (additional funding to support children in local authority care and those known to be eligible for free school meals) is below average.

Pupils are taught throughout the school in single-age class, including in the full-time Early Years Foundation Stage. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. An independent pre-school setting shares the school site.

It is not run by the governing body and is subject to a separate inspection. There have been a number of staff changes, including planned and unplanned staff absence covered by temporary staff and a number of new appointments, since the last inspection. These include the appointment of a new headteacher in September 2014 following the retirement of the previous headteacher in July 2014.

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