St John Fisher Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Pupils, staff, parents and carers are pleased with the improvements they have seen in the school's work. One parent's comment was typical: 'My children are thriving at this school.' Since the previous inspection, leaders have improved the quality of teaching and learning.

As a result, pupils achieve well. The headteacher has created a strong team of leaders around her. She has established a culture of high expectations across the whole school community.

For the last two years, governance has been provided by an interim executive board (IEB). Members have supported the headteacher and senior leaders effectively to improve all aspects of th...e school's work. Leaders at all levels make regular checks on how effective their actions are to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

They use their findings to provide training for staff to develop their skills further. Safeguarding arrangements are secure. Pupils say, and their parents agree, that they feel safe and well cared for in school.

The school's fundamental values of care and respect help pupils to behave well. They show positive attitudes to learning in lessons. Teachers plan learning experiences for pupils across a variety of subjects that interest and enthuse them.

Pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities make good progress because teachers plan activities for them to help fill specific gaps in their knowledge and skills. Children get off to a good start in their Reception Year as a result of effective leadership in the early years. Children make good progress in all areas of learning.

Teachers do not always provide sufficient challenge for the most able pupils. This means that these pupils do not make as much progress as they should, particularly in writing. Progress for disadvantaged pupils is improving.

However, by the end of Year 6, too few of the most able disadvantaged pupils attain the higher standard in reading and mathematics or greater depth in writing. Pupils' attendance has fallen in the past three years. Leaders have introduced new systems to address this.

Information about this school

This school is larger than the average-sized primary school. It consists of 13 classes. There are two classes in Reception and Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.

In key stage 1, there is a Year 1 class and two Year 1 and 2 mixed classes. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is similar to the national average. The proportion of pupils who have an education, health and care plan is above average.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is below average. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage. A below-average proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language.

Very few pupils are new to English. Following a period of interim leadership arrangements, the headteacher took up her substantive role in September 2017. School leaders have received support from Brentwood Diocese and the local authority.

This includes support from headteachers and staff of other local Catholic schools. Since the previous inspection, governance of the school has been provided by an IEB. The IEB has recently been replaced by a governing body.

The school is designated as a Catholic primary school. It was previously inspected under Section 48 in October 2016. A breakfast club, managed by the governing body, operates on the school site.

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