St Catherine Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

St Catherine is a welcoming school, where pupils feel a strong sense of belonging.

Staff know pupils and their families well and help to ensure that the school's values run through every aspect of school life. Pupils feel settled, happy and safe and think that adults are kind and respectful. One pupil summarised how everyone feels about attending this school: 'I come to school with a smile on my face, and I leave with a smile on my face.'



Pupils achieve well. Staff expect pupils to work hard. Pupils know what is expected of them and are keen to do their best.

Behaviour in lessons and around the school is good, with pupils following the rules and ro...utines consistently. Staff promote positive behaviour through the school's reward system, and pupils strive to achieve highly.

Pupils talk positively about the range of clubs offered, such as Irish dancing, chess and professional netball coaching.

These are exceptionally well attended. Leaders promote the school's mission rigorously in ensuring that disadvantaged pupils have the opportunity to attend the range of clubs offered.

Parents and carers recognise the work the school does to put their children's needs and interests first.

Leaders and staff work hard to create a strong community feel. This work is valued by parents and families.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school sets high expectations of all pupils to thrive and 'Live life to the full'.

The curriculum is designed to be ambitious and meet the needs of all pupils in the school. This starts from the early years. The school has worked to ensure that key knowledge builds on what pupils have learned before.

Clear expectations are in place for the vocabulary and knowledge that the school wants pupils to know and remember over time.

Teaching uses a variety of helpful methods to check how well pupils are learning, including how much of the curriculum pupils can remember. Pupils learn and achieve well, including in English and mathematics.

However, in a few wider curriculum subjects, the curriculum is less successful in supporting them to develop a detailed body of knowledge. This is because, sometimes, teaching expertise is not strong enough to support pupils in deepening their understanding. Leaders are prioritising training and support for staff to strengthen teaching expertise further.

The school prioritises reading from early years up. Children learn phonics from the start of Reception. Leaders promote learning to read as being crucial for every pupil's educational success.

Through a well-planned approach to phonics, the school ensures that pupils become confident and fluent readers. Teachers' enthusiasm for reading contributes to pupils' overall enjoyment. Pupils at the early stages of reading are well supported to keep up with the expectations of the early reading curriculum.

Effective support also helps those pupils who have fallen behind in their reading to catch up swiftly. Staff work together with parents to show them how to support their children with reading at home. The books that pupils read are closely matched to the sounds that they know.

The school is determined to make sure that all pupils develop academically as well as socially. Throughout the school, staff prioritise developing pupils' language so they can readily express their views and talk about what they know. In early years, for example, children are supported to develop their language and listening skills through carefully chosen songs and rhymes, as well as through interactions with adults.

Pupils with additional needs are identified early. The provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is strong. Teachers make effective adaptations to ensure that these pupils can successfully access the curriculum.

The school promotes pupils' personal development exceptionally well. This is woven through all aspects of the curriculum. The school works very closely with outside agencies to support pupils' well-being.

This includes securing additional guidance and support for vulnerable families. A wide range of enrichment activities is offered, including extra-curricular clubs. Most of these are free, and pupils are offered the choice of two different clubs each term in order to broaden their experiences.

Pupils have many purposeful opportunities to learn about life in modern Britain. This includes learning about the important role that equality and diversity play in their school and wider society. Pupils spoke confidently about what they had learned about the importance of treating people with kindness.

The school works in close partnership with families to improve attendance and punctuality. Pupils focus well on their learning. They understand that making mistakes is an important part of getting better at a subject.

They are proud of their school and their achievements.

The governing body asks pertinent questions to help the school to improve. It checks that any actions taken are supporting the school to build on its existing strengths.

Staff are well supported. They are proud to be part of the school and value the input they receive as part of their professional development.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few foundation subjects, some teaching expertise is underdeveloped and does not support pupils to learn subject content in sufficient depth. This reduces how well pupils achieve in these subjects. The school should ensure that teachers have the expertise they need to teach all subjects effectively so that pupils develop a detailed body of knowledge across the curriculum.

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