St John’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

St John's Catholic Primary is a warm and welcoming place. The school motto, 'we are better together', is realised. There is a strong sense of community and mutual respect.

One view from a pupil, shared by many others, was 'The school is brilliant!'

The school is a calm and orderly place in which to learn. Pupils are not worried about bullying. Leaders respond to any reported incidents of bullying and act when needed.

Pupils say they feel safe.

Leaders have high aspirations for what pupils can achieve. Staff expect pupils to work hard and try their best.

Pupils live up to these expectations.

Pupils are polite and courteous and have ...positive attitudes to learning. This starts in Nursery.

From an early age, pupils learn about different careers. Visitors, including dentists and police officers, come into school to talk to pupils about their jobs.

Leaders provide pupils with a wide range of experiences beyond the classroom.

This helps to give pupils a sense of responsibility. Pupils can be a member of the school council or a play leader. They can raise money for charity or donate food to a local food bank.

The school is therefore a valued part of the local community.

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

Directors and leaders of the Painsley Catholic Academy multi-academy company (MAC) have a clear vision for the school. They want pupils to achieve the best they can.

Every pupil matters. Leaders and staff across the school share this vision. Leaders have a clear and accurate understanding of what the school does well and what could be even better.

Governors are committed to ensuring that every pupil achieves their potential. They visit the school regularly to check how pupils are doing. They provide leaders with an appropriate balance of support and challenge.

For example, they make sure that if a pupil attends alternative provision the school checks daily that they are attending. These kind of actions help parents to feel confident that their children are safe at school.

All pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), study a wide range of subjects alongside their peers.

Leaders make sure that subjects are well planned and sequenced. Plans build on what pupils learn year on year. Consequently, pupils are well prepared for the next stage in their education.

Most of the staff at St John's are at an early stage in their careers. Leaders make sure that the staff have high-quality training and coaching from specialist subject leaders and teachers from across the MAC. This means that teachers' subject knowledge is developing well across subjects.

As a result, work in pupils' books shows that they are making good progress. For example, in art the work in pupils' sketch books shows that over time they can use an increasing number of techniques successfully in their work.

Leaders have prioritised reading.

An effective reading programme is in place. This starts in Nursery. Staff have regular training in how to deliver the programme.

Pupils have a daily shared read. Staff reward pupils who read regularly with certificates and badges. Pupils are proud to receive these.

Leaders regularly check how well pupils are learning to read. Most develop into confident, fluent readers. If pupils fall behind, leaders provide pupils with extra help.

Despite it being early in the school year, children in Nursery have got off to a good start. Parents say their children have settled in well and enjoy coming to school. Pupils in Nursery and Reception work well together.

They share toys and are learning to take turns. The development of children's vocabulary and communication is a key focus in early years. Leaders check if pupils need extra support and when needed seek specialist advice from external agencies, including the educational psychologist.

As a result of this careful support, pupils with SEND in all years make good progress.

Staff have high expectations of pupils' behaviour. This starts in Reception.

Staff make sure pupils use their 'magnet eyes' to show they are listening to the teacher. Lessons run smoothly.

Pupils enjoy their learning and experiences outside of the classroom.

This includes residential trips, and visits to a science museum and to a pottery museum in Stoke. They work with members of the local community to present their work in the village memorial hall.

Leaders carefully consider staff workload and well-being.

They regularly check how staff are. Leaders listen to their concerns and act. For example, staff told them that twilight training sessions after school were not at the best time of day for them to learn well.

So, leaders plan whole-staff training to take place during teacher training days. As a result of leaders' responsive approach, all staff say they enjoy working at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff take pupils' welfare seriously. When they report concerns, they are confident that leaders will take the appropriate action. Staff have regular safeguarding training and updates from leaders.

The school completes all the appropriate checks on all adults who work at, or visit, the school.

In computing lessons, pupils learn how to keep themselves safe online. For example, they learn about inappropriate videos.

Leaders know about the risks pupils may face in the local area. In assemblies they teach pupils how to keep themselves safe in different situations. This prepares them well for when they move to high school.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Most staff at the school are at an early stage in their careers. This means that their subject knowledge and confidence in the delivery of subjects across the curriculum are more fully developed in some subjects than others, which may have an impact on pupils' progress. Leaders need to continue to focus on developing and embedding teachers' subject, pedagogical and pedagogical content knowledge to further enhance the teaching of all subjects across the curriculum, so that all pupils reach their full potential in all subjects.