SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, South Shields

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Under the strong leadership of the headteacher, an ethos of high expectations has been created.

Leaders are doggedly determined to eradicate anything that is second best. Leaders' continuing ambition to eliminate underperformance and to provide the best teaching, outcomes and experiences for all pupils is translated into action, and this means that the school is continuing to improve. Outcomes for pupils are good.

Current pupils are making strong progress from their individual starting points. Pupils' skills and progress in mathematics are much improved following a significant dip in 2017. Children in the early years make a solid start to... their learning.

They work happily and cooperatively together, making strong progress to reach standards that are broadly average by the time they leave the Reception class. Teaching is consistently good. Teachers mostly match work accurately to pupils' abilities, but occasionally work can lack challenge, especially for the most able pupils and children in early years.

Leaders' monitoring of the quality of provision in English and mathematics is rigorous and detailed. Subject leaders' skills across the wider curriculum still require further development. Leaders' effective use of the pupil premium funding has resulted in the difference between the progress and attainment of disadvantaged pupils and that of their peers diminishing rapidly.

A small difference still remains and few disadvantaged pupils are working at a greater depth of understanding. The leadership of the well-planned curriculum ensures that pupils' visits across the region fire their enthusiasm for learning. The school's assessment and tracking of pupils' progress in subjects other than English and mathematics is new and developing.

The behaviour of pupils is good. They have respect and care for each other and are polite and friendly. They display good manners.

There are very occasional lapses in behaviour in lessons. Governors play a key role in the school's ongoing success and keep a sharp eye on actions being taken to ensure further improvements. They are very well informed, and know the school inside-out.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The school is an average-sized primary school in which the vast majority of pupils are of White British heritage and speak English as their first language. The proportion of pupils who are known to be eligible for support from the pupil premium and the proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities are above the national average.

The school meets the current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for attainment and progress in English and mathematics at the end of Year 6. The school's part-time Nursery operates in the morning and afternoon. Reception children attend on a full-time basis.