St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School, Workington

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The appointment of the current executive headteacher was a turning point for this school. Together with the current head of school, she has created a culture where both staff and pupils strive to achieve the best they can. Staff morale is high and all relish the new challenges that they are being set.

The executive headteacher is improving the quality of leadership across the school. While middle leaders are managing their roles well, some are just beginning to take responsibility for initiating improvement. Governors have also improved the quality of their work.

Good governance is contributing to this rapidly improving school. In the ear...ly years and throughout the school, pupils make good progress from their below-typical starting points. The care that pupils receive is of the highest quality.

Staff invest much time and skill in the promotion of pupils' physical and mental wellbeing. Leaders ensure that all pupils experience a rich and diverse range of activities and opportunities that promote their personal development exceptionally well. Leaders have systematically and skilfully improved teaching.

High-quality planning, as a result of very good collaboration between staff, has resulted in consistently strong teaching. Leaders and teachers are now beginning to turn their attention to improving subjects other than English and mathematics. While standards in these other subjects are acceptable, they are not as strong as they are in English and mathematics.

Pupils' behaviour is outstanding in lessons and around the school. They take their learning very seriously and they work enthusiastically. Pupils enjoy coming to school.

This is reflected in the good attendance rates of most pupils. The school provides effective support to those families who struggle to get their children to school. Parents and carers, older pupils and staff all testify to the considerable improvement in this school over the past few years.

Parents, pupils and staff agree that pupils are well cared for and safe. Staff assiduously act on any concerns. Pupils are taught about potential risks and how to keep themselves safe from harm.

Information about this school

The school was inspected in June 2016 under section 48. The section 48 inspection evaluated the quality of religious education. Since the previous inspection in November 2016, three permanent teachers have left and been replaced.

The executive headteacher is also the executive headteacher of another local diocesan school, Our Lady and St Patrick's. These schools now work closely together. The executive headteacher is a national leader in education (NLE).

Two teachers are specialist leaders in education (SLE). Since the start of the school year, a number of pupils who have been granted refugee status in the United Kingdom have joined the school. These pupils are new to speaking English.

Since the last inspection, the governing body has undertaken a review of the effectiveness of governance. The governing body runs a breakfast and an after-school club. The school is currently undergoing a major refurbishment programme.