St Bede’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The Early Years Foundation Stage gives children a good start to their education. They mostly start school with skills below those expected for their age, particularly in language and communication, and make good progress.

Pupils make good progress as they move through the school and usually leave with broadly average standards of attainment. Pupils have positive attitudes to their learning. They are polite, confident and caring towards adults and their peers.

They understand how to keep themselves and others safe. Pupils say behaviour is good and their parents and teachers unanimously agree. Attendance has improved in each of the last th...ree years and is now slightly above the national average.

The quality of teaching is good and sometimes outstanding. Teachers plan lessons adjusted to meet the needs of different abilities. Teaching assistants give very effective support, using resources and activities well to interest pupils.

The curriculum is good and provides very well for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The headteacher, deputy headteacher and governors provide strong leadership and have a clear vision for improvement, which is shared by all staff. This has led to better teaching and achievement, and has set the school on an upward path.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching, although good overall, does not yet enable all pupils to make outstanding progress. Teachers do not always allow sufficient time for pupils to reflect on their learning and respond to marking so they are clear about what they need to do to improve their work. Pupils do not have enough opportunities to develop their independence and manage their own learning.

Information about this school

St Bede's is a larger than average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is below average. (The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and those children that are looked after.

) The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported at school action plus, or with a statement of special educational needs, is below that found in most schools. The proportion supported at school action is similar to that seen in most other schools. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups, including those who are learning English as an additional language, is below that found nationally.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The school runs a breakfast-club and after-school club. The headteacher and deputy headteacher have joined the school since the last inspection.