St Austin’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Pupils list a host of reasons why they so clearly enjoy attending this good school. Understandably, they describe it as 'a happy place to be' where 'everyone tries hard'.

Outstanding care, guidance and support means that pupils are entirely confident that they are safe in school and that the adults look after them. Leaders and other staff are determined that pupils develop into well-rounded individuals. As a result, their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is exceptional.

They learn to understand, respect and value the cultures of others within the school's open and welcoming environment. Pupils are proud and happy to explain and celebrate with others their beliefs and traditio...ns. They comment, for example, 'Christmas is great, although we don't have it at our house'.

Because they respond so positively to the school's encouragement to care for each other, pupils are considerate and their behaviour is excellent. When they join the Early Years Foundation Stage, most children's skills are at least below and at times well below the expectations for their age. During their time in school good progress ensures their attainment is broadly average by the end of Year 6.

However, attainment is typically stronger in English than in mathematics. The school's careful analysis of assessment information has revealed that pupils tend to have some difficulty in using their numerical skills and knowledge to solve mathematical problems. Pupils' learning and progress have improved since the previous inspection in line with developments in teaching.

For example, marking and the use of pupils' individual targets are now more effective so pupils are clear about how they can improve their work. Teachers usually pitch lessons sufficiently accurately so all groups of pupils learn well and make good gains in knowledge, skills and understanding. Occasionally, tasks do not provide enough challenge for some pupils, in particular the most able, which means that their learning and progress slow down.

The headteacher and deputy headteacher work closely together to ensure that the school's caring nature is retained alongside the unwavering drive for improvement which is shared by all staff. Accurate self-evaluation is used effectively to focus efforts on areas that will make a notable improvement to pupils' outcomes. Hence, work has already begun to raise attainment in mathematics.

Thorough planning, with responsibilities distributed between leaders at all levels, means that aspects, such as teaching pupils about the sounds made by different letters, have improved and had a positive impact on attainment in reading and writing. All this indicates clearly that the school has good capacity to continue to improve.

Information about the school

This is a larger than average sized primary school.

The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is above average. A below average proportion of pupils are known to be eligible for free school meals. Since the previous inspection, the school population has changed in that the proportions of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds or those who are in the early stages of learning to speak English as an additional language, have increased and are well above average.

Around 13 minority ethnic groups are represented in the school, the largest groups being of Pakistani or Polish heritage. The number of pupils joining the school at other than the usual time varies considerably from year-to-year but is often particularly high in Years 5 and 6. The school has gained the Activemark and Eco-schools Bronze awards and achieved Healthy School status.