St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

St Anthony's is a good school which has improved markedly since its previous inspection, when it was judged to be satisfactory. The improvements have been driven by the effective leadership of the headteacher, ably supported by governors and leaders at all levels.

In particular, the effective management of teaching and monitoring of staff performance has led to better teaching which in turn is resulting in accelerated progress for pupils, especially in Key Stage 2. Pupils are now achieving well, often from very low starting points. Children make a good start in the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the Early Years Foundation Stage because of much improved provision since the previous inspection.
.../>Thereafter, pupils make good progress and sometimes exceptional progress in Key Stage 2. As a result, by the end of Year 6 their attainment in English and mathematics is broadly average. All groups of pupils make good progress including disabled pupils, those with special educational needs and those who are learning English.

The large Polish group, in particular, make rapid progress because of the very effective and systematic strategies that are in place to develop their language and communication skills. The behaviour and safety of pupils are good. This is underpinned by a caring and inclusive ethos, which contributes to the very strong promotion of pupils' social, moral, spiritual and cultural development.

Consequently, most feel safe and well looked after. Pupils' good behaviour in lessons contributes well to the very positive climate for learning in the school. The school is not yet outstanding because of a few remaining inconsistencies in teaching in Key Stage 1, where expectations of the most able pupils, in particular, are not always high enough.

In addition, while leaders track the progress of individual pupils well they do not routinely track the progress of different groups to identify trends in achievement.

Information about the school

This is a much larger than average primary school which has grown significantly since its previous inspection because it opened a Nursery class in September 2009. Pupils come from a very wide range of ethnic backgrounds and approximately half are of Polish heritage.

The other largest minority groups are White British and Black African. Most pupils speak English as an additional language, with the majority of Polish children arriving in the Early Years Foundation Stage speaking little or no English. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is broadly average but more have statements of special educational needs than is the case in most schools.

Most of their needs are related to speech and communication, specific learning difficulties and/or behavioural and emotional problems. More pupils than in most schools join or leave the school at other than the usual times. The school meets the current government floor standard for pupils' attainment and progress.

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