St John’s CofE Primary and Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school.

It has maintained pupils' good achievement since the last inspection and continues to improve well because of the commitment of staff and school leaders, especially the headteacher. Pupils, parents and carers are extremely positive and appreciate the good levels of teaching and care that the school provides. National test results are above average but progress in mathematics, although good, is not as rapid as in English in Key Stage 2.

Teaching is good. The teaching of early literacy skills is excellent and helps pupils gain a firm grounding in reading and writing. Mathematics teaching is good overall but does not always gain pupils' full interest and concentration in Ke...y Stage 2.

The school provides strong support for disabled pupils and those with special educational needs. As a result, they make good progress. Teachers mark pupils' work regularly but do not always provide useful comments to help them improve their work.

Pupils are not sure about their individual learning targets for English and mathematics and they are not reviewed frequently enough. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding in lessons and around the school. They are extremely polite and have very mature attitudes to their learning.

Pupils from different backgrounds get on very well together and feel very safe in school. They take full advantage of the school's excellent curriculum, enjoying the wide range of sporting and creative opportunities offered. As a result, their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding.

Senior leaders, including the governing body, have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. They ensure that parents and carers receive high levels of information about the curriculum, school events and their children's progress. They have successfully strengthened teaching in literacy but plans to improve mathematics are not rigorous enough to secure rapid progress.

Information about the school

This average-sized primary school serves pupils from many different backgrounds. Approximately a quarter come from non-British White backgrounds and a high proportion of these pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals has risen sharply in the last two years and is now average.

The proportion identified with disabilities and special educational needs, especially with statements of special educational needs, is above average. Many of those identified have significant physical or medical difficulties. The school has won a number of awards in recent years, including Healthy Schools status.

The school currently meets the government's floor standards. Breakfast and after-school clubs for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) are provided by the school and similar clubs for pupils in the main school are organised by a private provider. The latter was not part of this inspection.