St Francis de Sales RC Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leadership is inspirational. Leaders have successfully created a culture of high expectations and respect, which they model exceptionally well to all staff and pupils.

Leaders have ensured that the quality of teaching and learning is consistently good. As a result, most pupils make strong progress in English, mathematics and the wider curriculum. Governors are ambitious for the pupils.

They know the school's performance very well and hold senior leaders to account for the quality of teaching and the progress and attainment of pupils. The provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent. It permeates thr...ough every aspect of the school's work.

This prepares pupils very well for their future lives in modern Britain. Children make strong progress during their time in the early years. They play and learn in a safe and happy environment.

Children leave the Reception Year well prepared to continue their learning journey into Year 1. Pupils' behaviour is impeccable. They are extremely respectful, polite and courteous.

They feel safe and are very well cared for. Leaders provide excellent opportunities for pupils' personal development. Pupils display exceptionally strong attitudes to learning.

The rich and varied curriculum provides pupils with good learning tasks to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in a wide range of subjects. Occasionally, teachers do not provide sufficient opportunities for pupils to apply their mathematics skills in science. This prevents pupils from making even better progress.

Sometimes, the most able pupils are not sufficiently challenged to make the progress of which they are capable. Although the teaching of writing is good overall, some pupils are capable of making better progress in writing. Opportunities for pupils to practise their writing skills, particularly in Year 1, are not consistently strong.

Information about this school

The executive headteacher is also the headteacher of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Barnet. St Frances de Sales RC Infant School is federated with the junior school. The same governing body is responsible for both schools.

The executive headteacher and leadership team work across the infant and junior schools. Each of the schools are inspected separately. The school has a Catholic religious character and the last section 48 inspection took place in January 2018, when it was judged to be good overall.

This school is larger than the average-sized primary school. The breakfast club is managed by a private company. The school runs its own after-school clubs.

Also at this postcode