St Edmund’s Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher (academy head), ably supported by her senior leader, has high expectations and is committed to the school's continued improvement.

Together, they provide strong and clear leadership for staff and pupils. Pupils' behaviour is a distinct strength of the school. Pupils are proud of their school and have excellent relationships with their teachers.

They demonstrate consistently high levels of care and consideration for each other. Locality committee members (governors) and trustees have a clear and accurate understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. They provide leaders with effective support and challenge.
...r/>Staff are proud to work at the school and are grateful for the many training and development opportunities that are open to them. Staff morale is high. Teaching is good and improving.

Teachers plan and deliver learning that motivates and interests pupils. Teachers are well supported by the team of teaching assistants. Leaders, locality committee members and trustees ensure that pupils enjoy a broad, balanced and effective range of curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Attainment at key stage 1 has been in line with or above national averages in recent years. In the same period, progress in reading and writing at key stage 2 has been average, although it was weaker in 2018. Improvements in leadership and the quality of teaching have ensured that current pupils in almost all year groups make good overall progress as they move through the school.

Leaders ensure that pupils are well looked after and that they are kept safe. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a strength of the school. Leadership of the early years is good.

This ensures that children get off to a positive start in their education. Children develop strong attitudes to learning. Pupils' progress in mathematics at key stage 2 has typically been weaker than in reading and writing.

Although it is improving, it is still not as strong. Learning activities and teachers' questioning do not always fully challenge all pupils.

Information about this school

This is the school's first section 5 inspection since it joined the Consortium Multi-Academy Trust (CMAT) in August 2016.

When its predecessor school, St Edmund's Primary School, was last inspected by Ofsted it was judged to be good overall. The school receives support and challenge from the trust's chief executive officer, its education and learning manager, and from its own locality committee. Responsibility for the school's performance lies with the CMAT trust board.

The school is a smaller-than-average sized primary school. The proportion of pupils with SEND support is average. The proportions of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium, who speak English as an additional language, or who have an education, health and care plan are below average.