Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Sacred Heart is a happy and caring place where everyone is valued. Relationships among pupils, and between staff and pupils, are warm and positive. Pupils say they feel safe and secure in this school.

They know that the adults care about them and will help them if they need any support.

The school has high ambitions for pupils and a clear vision for ensuring that they experience a high-quality education. However, despite the implementation of an ambitious curriculum, some pupils, especially older pupils, do not achieve as well as they should.

This is due to their previous gaps in learning.

Pupils rise to meet the high expectations for their behaviour.... They move sensibly around school and are polite and respectful to adults and to each other.

Their attitudes to learning are positive. Staff provide effective support for pupils who need help to manage their emotions.

Pupils' personal development is fostered well.

Pupils learn how to lead healthy and safe lives, and they gain an understanding of the differences between themselves and others. Pupils are taught to be respectful, kind and welcoming. They value the opportunity to take part in extra-curricular clubs and to take on leadership roles that contribute to the smooth running of the school.

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

The school has experienced a considerable period of staffing and leadership instability in recent years. This has had a negative impact on pupils' achievement. The published data shows that the attainment of Year 6 pupils in reading, writing and mathematics has been significantly below the national average for a period of time.

New leadership of the school has brought about considerable change in a relatively short period of time. The curriculum has been overhauled, pupils' behaviour has improved and subject leadership has strengthened. This means that most pupils at the school are experiencing a stronger quality of education than they did in the past.

Even so, these changes are having less impact on older pupils. This is because they have the biggest gaps in their learning, especially in writing, due to the considerable changes in staffing and the weaknesses in the previous curriculum. This prevents these pupils from achieving as well as they should.

The school has designed a curriculum that sets out the important knowledge that pupils will learn. This gives teachers clear guidance about what they should teach and when this should happen. The school has ensured that staff are suitably supported to build their subject knowledge so that they are better equipped to deliver the curriculum.

Typically, teachers design appropriate and engaging activities that enable pupils to learn the curriculum well. However, on occasion, teachers do not select the most appropriate activities to support pupils' learning. When this happens, some pupils do not learn the key curriculum knowledge as well as they should.

Staff check on what pupils know and remember regularly. They mostly spot pupils' misconceptions and address these quickly. However, they are less effective in identifying and remedying the gaps that exist in older pupils' knowledge and understanding.

The school is ambitious for pupils to develop a love of reading. The phonics programme enables children in the Reception class, and pupils in key stage 1, to develop their knowledge of letters and sounds effectively. The school has invested in a wide range of resources to deliver the phonics programme and to promote a love of reading.

Pupils who are struggling to keep up with the phonics programme benefit from suitable support that helps them to catch up quickly. Most pupils gain the knowledge and skills they need to read with confidence and fluency.

Since the previous inspection, the school has enhanced its provision to identify and support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Staff receive the information that they need about pupils with SEND. They use this information to give these pupils the help that they need. The school ensures that pupils with SEND participate fully in the same curriculum and wider opportunities as their peers.

Children in the early years benefit from a carefully designed curriculum. Learning activities support children in developing their knowledge, communication and language skills. They enjoy the wide range of opportunities to develop their physical and social skills.

Staff care for the children well and help them to become independent. This means that children are well prepared for their move into key stage 1.

The consistent approach to managing pupils' behaviour, along with staff's raised expectations, mean that most pupils are attentive during lessons and show engagement in their learning.

The school's actions to address poor attendance rates and punctuality are bearing fruit. This has led to more pupils attending school regularly and on time.

Pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities that support their personal development.

They know how to keep themselves safe, including online. Pupils undertake a range of responsibilities diligently, for example as school councillors, digital leaders and play leaders. This prepares them to become active citizens.

There have been considerable changes to the governing body in the recent past. This has left a number of vacancies which has meant a lot of responsibility has rested with a small number of governors. New governors have recently been appointed to reverse this situation.

Staff appreciate the consideration that the school has for their well-being. For example, they are given the time and resources that they need to carry out their duties.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, teachers do not match learning activities sufficiently to the knowledge that the school has identified for pupils to learn. This means that, at times, some pupils do not learn key curriculum knowledge as well as they should. The school should ensure that teachers design learning activities that help pupils to learn the curriculum consistently well.

• Some older pupils have gaps in their learning, especially in writing, due to weaknesses in the previous curriculum and the negative impact of instability in staffing. This prevents them from benefiting fully from the new and improved curriculums. The school should ensure that it addresses the gaps in pupils' knowledge so that they are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

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