St Alban’s Catholic Primary School, Pelaw

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher sets high expectations that are shared by pupils and staff. Leaders have maintained a positive and purposeful learning environment where children are happy, behave well and make good progress.

Leaders have successfully addressed dips in performance in 2014, and sustained improvement in outcomes has been achieved over the past two years at both key stage 1 and 2. Leaders have developed reliable systems to check on the quality of teaching and pupils' progress and, as a result, have an accurate view of standards. Strong planning and increasing subject expertise enable the majority of pupils to make good progress.

Governors ar...e committed to the success of the school and provide robust support and challenge. They have the necessary expertise that they use to hold leaders to account for key aspects of performance. The distinctive Catholic ethos of the school promotes an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding that runs through all aspects of the school's work.

Leaders in the early years have successfully improved provision through stronger planning, and teaching and better use of outside space. The arrangements for safeguarding pupils are effective. The headteacher has raised the profile of all aspects of safeguarding this year, reflecting a collective commitment to the welfare and well-being of pupils.

Levels of absence and persistent absence are below those seen nationally. The vast majority of pupils are happy at school and value their education. Middle leaders are becoming more accomplished in monitoring standards and sharing good practice.

Subject monitoring of the wider curriculum and assessment of the impact of initiatives is less well developed. Differences in progress between disadvantaged pupils and their peers are continuing to diminish. However some differences in attainment persist, and rates of absence for these pupils remain higher than those for other pupils.

There are signs that increasing proportions of most-able pupils are working at greater depth. Variance remains in writing and in some subjects, including geography and history. The majority of parents value the support that the school provides and the progress that their children make.

However, a significant number have concerns over some aspects of provision, homework and communication.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. St Alban's is a slightly below average-sized primary school.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is below average. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is above average. Most pupils are of White British heritage.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is below the national average. The school's 2016 results met the government's floor standards for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 6. The school has a number of awards, including the Basic Skills Quality Mark, the recognition of commitment towards the Unicef Rights Respecting School award, the International School award and the Artsmark Gold award.

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