St John’s Chapel Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Since her appointment in November 2018, the acting headteacher has taken swift, decisive and effective action to improve provision across the school.

The acting headteacher has put in place strong systems to monitor the effect of teaching. She has used the resulting insights to focus staff training and their further development. Governors are skilled and know the school's needs well.

They support and hold the acting headteacher to account effectively. The acting headteacher and the governors have a detailed knowledge of the school's strengths and weaknesses and evaluate its performance accurately. Disadvantaged pupils make very similar pr...ogress to their peers because of the effective, targeted work of staff.

The provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is well led. These pupils make good progress from their starting points. They achieve well.

Because of recent actions by the school, the quality and effectiveness of pupils' writing is improving. However, more needs to be done to ensure that these improvements are embedded, including for the most able. Pupils are very well behaved.

They enjoy school and learning. They are kind and alert to the needs of others. They are well prepared for their next steps in learning.

The school's work to promote pupils' personal development and welfare is outstanding. Pupils feel safe and are safe. They are eager to learn.

They are well prepared for their next stage of education. Parents are very supportive of the school. They appreciate the range of opportunities and care that the school offers their children.

Reading is a strength of the school. Pupils across the school have many opportunities to enjoy and explore words and their effect. This aspect of the school's work is well led by the acting headteacher.

The school is very well supported by the local authority. The school offers pupils a wide range of extra-curricular activities that help them understand their place in the world. The school offers an interesting and varied curriculum.

However, pupils' knowledge and skills in subjects beyond English, mathematics and science need further development.

Information about this school

St John's Chapel Primary School is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. As a result, there are very few pupils in each year group.

There are two classes: a class comprising Reception and Years 1, 3 and 4 pupils, and a class comprising Years 5 and 6. Most pupils are White British. .

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils eligible for support through the pupil premium is well below the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average. The acting headteacher has been in post since November 2018.

She is also acting headteacher of Forest of Teesdale Primary School and Rookhope Primary School. Each of these schools has its own governing body. The school has undergone significant changes to staffing over the last six months.

Currently there are no children in the Reception Year and in Year 2. The school runs clubs after school on three nights a week. The school shares the site with a pre-school that offers part-time provision for children aged three to four years.