St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This school is a calm, happy and welcoming learning community. The school's values and mission statement, 'we listen, learn and grow with Jesus', are seen through all aspects of school life.

Governors and staff want all pupils to do their best and have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. As a result, pupils work hard and do well. They enjoy sharing their learning, ideas and viewpoints with others, and they are proud of being pupils at this school.

Staff, pupils, parents and carers agree that the behaviour of pupils is a strength. They are absolutely right. On the rare occasions when there is poor behaviour, staff and leaders address it quickly.

In l...essons and at playtimes, pupils are confident and kind. Most pupils attend school regularly and are rarely late. However, some pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, do not attend as regularly as their peers.

Pupils feel safe at school and know they can speak to school staff if they have any worries.

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

Leaders have ambition for all pupils to do well. They have designed a broad and ambitious curriculum, which meets the needs of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Leaders have carefully set out what pupils will learn in each year and in all subjects. They make checks to ensure that teachers deliver the curriculum as they have intended, although these checks are not always as rigorous as they could be. As a result, in a small number of subjects, leaders do not maintain sufficient oversight of how well the curriculum is taught.

This means there is some inconsistency in the quality and sequence of the activities that children complete.

Children get off to a good start in the early years. The curriculum is carefully matched to children's needs and interests.

Teachers provide engaging activities, and children quickly become focused, engaged learners. Adults in the early years skilfully develop children's speaking and listening skills. This means that children quickly become confident at communicating with others.

In the early years and key stage 1, developing pupils' understanding of phonics is a priority. Leaders have ensured that the adults who teach phonics do so consistently. Teachers check pupils' phonic knowledge regularly.

They provide help quickly if pupils struggle or fall behind. Across the school, adults share books with pupils in English lessons and for pleasure at other times. Pupils enjoy the stories and books they hear.

Most pupils become fluent, independent readers early on in key stage 2. Those who struggle receive support to catch up. Leaders and staff ensure that all pupils access the full curriculum on offer.

They are skilled at identifying pupils with SEND and work with parents effectively to put in place additional support when needed. Leaders and teachers assess the needs of pupils with SEND effectively and closely follow the progress they make. When necessary, leaders work with external agencies to gather expert advice about what is needed.

Teachers implement this advice consistently well to the benefit of pupils.

The curriculum extends beyond the academic. Leaders have designed a broad personal development curriculum, which aims to give pupils precisely what they need.

It provides pupils with a variety of opportunities and experiences, which they enjoy and benefit from. They can become prayer leaders and school councillors or engage in charitable work both locally and in wider society. Pupils learn about other religions and ways of life and are respectful and tolerant of the beliefs of others.

To enhance the curriculum, pupils attend exciting trips each year, such as the Year 5 residential trip.

Governors and leaders know the school and their community well. They share in the vision and direction of the school, always having the best interests of pupils at heart.

They put in place clear improvement plans and check regularly to ensure that they are working.

Leaders and governors provide staff with valuable support and training, which they value. Governors also provide effective support for leaders within the school.

Governors, leaders and staff are proud and happy to work at St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Leaders train staff regularly so that they understand their role in safeguarding pupils.

Staff know how to recognise signs that pupils are at risk of harm and how to report their concerns.

Whenever staff report concerns, leaders act swiftly to safeguard pupils. They keep thorough records of their actions and involve other agencies when this is needed.

Leaders ensure that adults who work at or visit the school are safe to do so, and they keep accurate records of the checks that they make.

Pupils are safe at school. Through the curriculum, they learn how to stay safe, including online.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority) ? Sometimes, teachers give pupils work that requires an understanding of concepts that they have not been taught or they do not remember. This means that they become confused, and their learning is limited. Leaders should ensure that teachers carefully select activities that are based on pupils' secure understanding of what they have learned before so that pupils learn more and remember more.

• In a small number of subjects, leaders do not make sufficient checks to assure themselves that the intended curriculum is implemented consistently well. This means that they do not always know how effectively the curriculum is being taught. Leaders should ensure that their assurance processes are effective so that they know exactly how effective the school curriculum is leading to pupils learning more and remembering more.