St Francis Catholic Primary School, South Ascot

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud of their role within the school community. They take the school's values to heart, and live up to the 'golden rules'.

Above all, they show kindness and consideration for one another. Older pupils act as 'buddies' and mentors for younger peers. This helps to reinforce routines, behaviour and the culture of learning within the school.

Standards of achievement are very high for all pupils. This stems from the aspirational approach the school takes from the moment children arrive in early years. Staff have a clear sense of every pupil's potential to succeed.

Disadvantaged pupils, although few in number, develop the same depth and mastery in learn...ing as their classmates.

The school continues to provide an excellent education for its pupils in the face of significant challenges. Last year more than half of the school site was deemed unusable due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

The school's response has been remarkable, with pupils moving first to marquees and then to temporary classrooms. Spaces for play and outdoor learning have been entirely reconfigured as well. Throughout this, the school has kept an unwavering focus on ensuring that every pupil achieves the best they possibly can.

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

The school sets out a highly ambitious programme of knowledge and skills for pupils to learn. This enables pupils to encounter new ideas and concepts. In art and design, for example, pupils learn about the works and techniques of great artists.

This enhances their cultural understanding, as well as developing an appreciation of the skills of famous artists. Learning is sequenced carefully at every stage. In mathematics, children in reception develop a firm grasp of number and shape.

As they move up through the school, this strong start supports pupils to calculate and solve problems with increasing accuracy and confidence. Although not yet fully evident in national tests, pupils achieve exceptionally well in mathematics.

Teachers provide tasks that match the aspirations of the curriculum.

For pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), staff make subtle but effective adaptations to their learning. This supports all pupils' learning to the fullest possible extent. For example, in history pupils use their knowledge of Anglo-Saxon England to consider the importance of Alfred the Great.

Teachers provide prompts and key vocabulary, so that all pupils can evaluate thoughtfully. By providing guidance and correcting pupils' misconceptions as they learn, teachers make sure that all pupils are keeping up. In science, this helps pupils to plan their own investigations.

Teachers' understanding of what pupils are learning also helps to pick up on potential SEND needs. Across the curriculum, pupils develop rich and detailed knowledge, regardless of their starting points.

Published outcomes are consistently above national averages.

Last year's slightly lower scores in reading prompted leaders to redouble their focus on this area. Staff deliver precise support to enable weaker readers to catch up. All pupils benefit from enjoyable and ambitious stories and other texts.

Consequently, pupils of every age develop fluency and confidence in their reading. This helps them to be strongly prepared for the next stage in their education.

Behaviour throughout the school is exemplary.

Staff in early years set high expectations of how children should interact as they play and learn. Positive habits and routines for learning are embedded swiftly. This provides a secure foundation for pupils' learning as they move up through the school.

Pupils' attendance is strong. When they are absent, staff support them to catch up on learning they have missed. If families struggle with attendance, the school takes thoughtful and effective steps to bring about improvement.

All pupils benefit from an exceptionally broad programme for their personal development. Exciting trips help to spark pupils' curiosity about topics like archaeology. Opportunities like the parent-led 'inspire week' give pupils a sense of possible future careers.

At the same time, it reinforces the importance of the school's values, such as perseverance and creativity. The school teaches all pupils about staying healthy, both physically and mentally. If pupils need additional support to deal with any worries, the school makes sure that this is in place so that they can continue to learn.

Leaders, supported by governors and the trust, have maintained their focus on delivering an outstanding education despite the challenges the school has faced. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about how the school engages with them. Staff see that leaders are considerate of their welfare too.

The resulting sense of community at the school is palpable. At the core of this are the pupils, whose interests are always at the forefront of leaders' thinking.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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