St Edmund’s Catholic School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

The headteacher's strong leadership is the key to the school's continuing improvement. She has built a strong staff team and governors who are working together to improve teaching and, with it, the progress of all pupils. Almost all teaching is good and some is outstanding.

This is leading to pupils making good progress and reaching above average standards by the end of Year 6. Pupils develop enquiring minds because many lessons include practical activities and investigations. The Nursery and Reception provide children with an exciting start to their school life.

Their independence starts here and develops at pace across the res...t of the school. The pupils' behaviour is exemplary and they have very positive attitudes to learning. Pupils feel extremely safe.

This contributes significantly to their good progress and the harmonious atmosphere prevalent in the school. All adults show how much they care for the welfare of the pupils. This is reflected in pupils showing great care and concern for others.

Pupils really enjoy learning through activities they work on with others. This helps them to learn from each other, become increasingly independent and able to follow their own lines of enquiry. They are very comfortable taking risks and learning from their mistakes.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teachers do not provide enough opportunities for pupils to apply their mathematical skills to real-life problems. Pupils are not always given time to respond to their teacher's marking about how to improve their work.

Information about this school

The school is average in size.

Two-thirds of the pupils are from a wide range of minority ethnic backgrounds, and the proportion speaking English as an additional language is well above average. An above-average proportion of pupils is known to be eligible for funding through the pupil premium (which is extra money given to schools for pupils in local authority care, from Forces families and who are known to be eligible for free school meals). The proportion of pupils supported through school action is average, as is the proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs.

Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in a Nursery and a Reception class. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for attainment and progress. The school does not provide or have access to any alternative provision.