St Hedda’s Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at this happy and welcoming rural school. Positive, caring relationships between pupils and adults mean that pupils feel well cared for. Pupils describe themselves as feeling 'protected'.

Pupils' behaviour is exceptional. They demonstrate kindness and respect towards each other. Pupils realise the school's ESK values of 'excellence, self-belief and knowledge' in all aspects of their work and play.

Pupils make a significant contribution to the life of the school. Digital leaders help their friends when they work on the computers. Sports leaders encourage all pupils to join in with playtime games.

Pupils are glad to be 'Mini Vinnies'. They take se...riously their mission of turning environmental concerns into action.

The school expects pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to achieve well.

Pupils rise to this challenge. The work which pupils produce is of a consistently high quality throughout the curriculum.

Pupils benefit from an incredibly rich and rewarding range of experiences and wider opportunities.

The school carefully plans these so that they are meaningful for pupils. A recent visit to The Houses of Parliament helped pupils to understand democracy in action. Setting up camp and sleeping on the school field provides older pupils with the opportunity to further develop their life skills and show resilience.

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

Leaders have worked effectively to develop a curriculum which is highly ambitious, and implemented consistently well. This enables pupils to achieve highly in all subjects. Staff are highly trained to implement the curriculum.

Pupils are engaged and motivated to learn. The school makes sure that learning is skilfully and successfully adapted to meet the needs of individual pupils in this small school. Pupils' knowledge develops securely and confidently across a wide range of subjects and topics.

Pupils with SEND are quickly identified. The school provides them with the extra help they need to learn the curriculum. The school provides staff with insightful guidance on the strategies that will best support individual pupils.

This helps teachers to set pupils that are well matched to their learning needs. This supports them to make strong progress through the curriculum.

The school prioritises reading.

Phonics is taught very well. The school uses checks on pupils' learning adeptly to identify pupils who may be falling behind in their reading. Pupils get the help they need to keep up.

In key stage 1, 'book babbles' encourage pupils to talk about the books they have read. This promotes pupils' speech and expands their vocabulary. Older pupils have a love of reading.

They read widely and often. The school has carefully considered the texts which pupils will read to promote pupils' understanding of different cultures, faiths, and beliefs. Older pupils enjoyed their trip to Newcastle to see a dramatic version of the novel 'The Boy at the Back of the Class', performed on stage.

Staff model the behaviours they expect of pupils. High expectations are consistently applied. This helps pupils to remain focused and engaged in their learning.'

Shine' awards encourage pupils to work hard. Staff make classrooms purposeful and peaceful places for pupils.

Leaders are determined that pupils' opportunities will not be limited by the size of the school.

The school plans a wide range of experiences to build on the knowledge pupils learn through the curriculum. An effective relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education programme gives older pupils an age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships. Pupils appreciate the many different types of families that exist in modern Britain today.

Visits to places like Middlesbrough football stadium help pupils to understand issues such as the importance of eradicating racism through sport. Opportunities to litter pick on Whitby beach encourage pupils to contribute to their community and understand some of the environmental challenges the world faces. The wide variety of opportunities the school offers broadens pupils' cultural understanding of the world beyond Egton.

Pupils enjoy using the prayer space and prayer garden in school to sit and reflect.

Leaders at all levels are passionate about realising pupils' potential. They are exceptionally ambitious for the pupils and the community which the school serves.

They have made engagement with parents and carers a high priority. Leaders have consulted with parents on the opportunities they would like their children to have. Consequently, the curriculum now includes more outdoor learning.

Those responsible for governance ensure that the school's work is making a difference to pupils' learning and well-being. The school has benefited exceptionally well from support provided by the trust. Staff morale is high.

The school supports staff's workload and well-being. Staff and parents describe the school as a supportive, unique and ambitious family.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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