Sacred Heart R.C. Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at this school experience learning in a wonderful way.

Their attitudes and conduct consistently embody the school's motto to 'love one another'. Pupils are happy and look forward to school each day. Across the school there is a calm atmosphere that enables pupils to focus completely on their learning.

Pupils relish the vast range of opportunities to learn. Every part of the school grounds and buildings are used to enhance learning. For example, the school farm and pond help pupils to deepen their understanding in science.

Kit cars produced by the pupils in design and technology, and theatre costumes produced in art and design, are displayed with pride....The school has exceptionally high expectations of what pupils can and should achieve. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and those who are disadvantaged, consistently live up to or exceed these expectations.

They shine in all that they do. This is reflected in the exceptional quality of work that pupils produce. Pupils across the school achieve remarkably well.

Pupils take full advantage of the vast array of enrichment activities that are on offer to them. For example, they benefit from carefully programmed trips to local venues and older pupils visit places further afield, such as Lindisfarne and France.

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

The school is extremely ambitious for pupils, including those with SEND.

It has carefully mapped out the important knowledge that pupils should learn at each stage and in each subject. This broad and balanced curriculum flows seamlessly from the beginning of the early years to the end of Year 6.

Many school staff are specialist teachers in their fields.

They ensure that staff receive bespoke, high-quality training that enables them to design curriculum content extremely well. This also helps to ensure that the curriculum is delivered exactly as intended.

Staff are adept at swiftly identifying pupils' misconceptions and misunderstandings.

They use the school's assessment strategies well to identify where pupils may have gaps in their knowledge and to shape their future learning. Over time, pupils develop a deep body of knowledge that interconnects between subjects.

Children start learning phonics as soon as they begin in the Reception Year.

They practise their reading using books that are carefully matched to the sounds that they know. Staff check that pupils are keeping up with the phonics programme. If pupils struggle with reading, skilled staff provide effective support to help them to catch up quickly.

Most pupils become confident and fluent readers by the end of Year 2.

The school has successfully cultivated a love of reading. Older pupils talked enthusiastically about their favourite authors.

They enjoy practising their reading in the 'vardo' on the playground.

Pupils are polite, friendly and eager to converse with adults. They are proud of their school.

It is a place where showing kindness and caring about one another is the norm. Pupils' rates of attendance are high. They understand the importance of attending school each day.

Where needed, the school works in partnership with external professionals and families to reduce pupils' absence effectively.

Staff have been trained to quickly identify the additional needs that pupils may have. To secure appropriate support for pupils, staff work collaboratively with parents, carers and external agencies.

Staff are skilled at making necessary adaptations to their delivery of the curriculum. This enables pupils with SEND to learn successfully.

The way that the school develops pupils' character is praiseworthy.

Every aspect of the curriculum is brought to life by practical activities or visits, for example through digital designers, poets and artists in residence. Through their extensive work on human rights, pupils have a well-developed understanding of the differences between people and a secure knowledge of fundamental British values. Pupils take part actively in community fundraising events.

They learn how to keep themselves safe online and how to stay physically and mentally healthy.

Pupils take pride in their roles of responsibility. These include positions such as members of pupil parliament, creative ambassadors, apostles and subject champions.

Governors know the school well. Their decisions are rooted in making sure that pupils have as many opportunities to flourish as possible. They carry out their duties effectively and hold the school to account fully for the quality of education that pupils receive.

Staff were overwhelmingly positive about how the school takes their workload and well-being into consideration. For example, they value the wealth of training that they receive and say that this enables them to deliver the curriculum with confidence and pride.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.