St John’s CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Good teaching helps all pupils, including those who need extra help and the most able, to make good progress. Pupils' work in their books shows that they are achieving well in reading, writing and mathematics. Children do well in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Progress is improving across the school because of better teaching. As a result, standards are rising. Pupils behave well in lessons and are polite and helpful as they move around the school.

Their attitudes to learning are positive. Pupils are keen to work hard and do their best. Pupils say they feel safe.

They are happy to come to school, and this is reflecte...d in rising attendance rates. Teaching is improving rapidly. This is because : leaders check its quality rigorously and ensure that staff are provided with the training they need to help them develop their skills.

Leaders and staff are working well together to improve teaching and raise pupils' achievement. Governors ask leaders challenging questions to make sure they are held to account for their work. They regularly visit school to check for themselves how well pupils are doing.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils in Key Stage 2 do not routinely practise new writing skills by writing longer pieces of work. Some teachers show low expectations of pupils' handwriting and presentation. As a result, pupils' written work is sometimes muddled and untidy.

Occasionally, more-able pupils are not set hard enough work and this limits their progress. Teachers responsible for leading subjects and other aspects of the school's work are taking the right action to improve the school, but do not check thoroughly what impact their actions are having on pupils' achievement.

Information about this school

St John's Church of England Primary School is larger than most primary schools.

It is expanding to provide 420 places for pupils by September 2017. A new building extension opened its doors in September 2013. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

A well-above-average percentage of pupils come from minority ethnic backgrounds and speak English as an additional language. An above-average proportion of pupils are eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding to the school. The funding is based on the number of children at the school in local authority care and those known to be eligible for free school meals.

The percentage of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs who are supported by school action is well above average, as is the proportion supported by school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs. A well-above-average number of pupils join or leave partway through their primary school education. A breakfast club, managed by the governing body, operates on the school site.

Since the previous inspection, a new senior leadership team has been established. Six new teachers have joined the school since September 2013. Two are at the early stages of their teaching career.

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