St Anthony’s Voluntary Catholic Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher's determined drive to improve the school since the previous inspection has been effective.

She has tackled weaknesses in teaching rigorously. Teaching is now good. Capacity among leaders to improve further is good and growing.

From their low starting points, pupils now make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Overall achievement is good, especially for those who are disadvantaged. The provision for the early years is good.

As a result, children make a good start to their learning. Pupils who are new to learning English and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities receive good sup...port and so achieve well. Most work hard because they value learning.

Most teachers use assessment well to plan work that builds on pupils' prior learning effectively. Provision for sport and other extra-curricular activities is good and participation levels high. Pupils enjoy school.

Most attend regularly. The school provides a stable, supportive environment where pupils feel safe at all times and thrive. The school is a very diverse but harmonious community.

Pupils forge strong relationships and have a respectful regard and tolerance of others. Pupils' behaviour is typically good. They are treated with kindness and respect by staff and so respond likewise towards others.

Governors are very committed to and ambitious for the school and its community. While supportive, they are increasingly challenging leaders by holding them to account for the progress pupils make. The school's work to keep pupils safe is good.

Leaders work closely with parents and relevant agencies to ensure that all pupils have the care and help they need to flourish and achieve well. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The most able pupils are not challenged sufficiently to help them achieve more. Occasional lapses in behaviour and attention occur when teaching does not hold pupils interest well.

Pupils do not always apply their basic literacy skills accurately in their writing in other subjects. Children in the early years are not sufficiently challenged in their outdoor activities. While most feedback through marking follows the school's policy, practice is inconsistent.

The monitoring of teachers' planning and pupils' learning lacks rigour.

Information about this school

This is a smaller than an average-sized primary school. Children in the early years attend full time in the Reception class.

The proportion of pupils moving in and out of the school at times other than the start of the early years is above average. The proportion of pupils from a minority ethnic background is above the national average as is the proportion who have English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is below the national average.

The proportion of pupils deemed disadvantaged and supported through the pupil premium is well above average. (The pupil premium is additional government funding provided to support disadvantaged pupils including those who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority.) In 2015, the school met the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 6.

The school operates a breakfast club for pupils that is managed by the governing body. The school has had a very high number of staff changes since its previous inspection. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.