St Elizabeth Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The strong and determined leadership of the headteacher, well supported by leaders and governors, has successfully improved the school since the previous inspection. Governors hold leaders to account for the progress pupils make.

They know the school's strengths and have an accurate understanding of what needs to improve further. The quality of teaching has improved since the previous inspection. Pupils enjoy their learning and make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics.

They are well prepared for the move to secondary school. Children enjoy themselves in the early years because teachers make learning fun. Children make good p...rogress from their starting points as a result of consistently strong teaching.

Disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities achieve well throughout the school. Leaders monitor pupils' progress carefully and are quick to address any gaps in pupils' learning. Pupils' attendance has improved and is now in line with the national average.

Parents are pleased with the school's work to keep their children safe and well cared for. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective and pupils say they feel safe. Pupils behave well in lessons and in the playground.

Teachers promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development very effectively. The school is a happy and harmonious community where relationships between pupils and adults are positive. The school's work to support vulnerable pupils and their families is a strength of the school.

All staff promote pupils' personal development and well-being very effectively. Although pupils make good progress in mathematics overall, not enough pupils attain at the highest levels. Teaching does not consistently provide pupils with opportunities to apply their mathematical skills in a range of contexts.

There are too few opportunities for pupils to solve problems and develop reasoning skills before they reach Year 6. Leaders have strengthened procedures to monitor pupils' progress in English and mathematics. However, assessment arrangements in science and the other curriculum subjects are less robust.

Occasionally, the support from teaching assistants does not match the very high quality seen in most classes. Sometimes, teachers miss opportunities to provide the right levels of challenge in lessons, particularly for the most able pupils.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.

The school is larger than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups and the number of pupils who speak English as an additional language is much higher than the national average. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is above average.

A higher-than-average proportion of pupils are supported by the pupil premium funding. This is additional government funding provided for pupils who are eligible for free school meals and those children who are looked after by the local authority. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The early years comprises a Nursery and two Reception classes. Children in the Nursery either attend in the morning or the afternoon. Children in Reception attend full time.