St John and St James CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love coming to this inclusive and nurturing school. Behaviour in the school is exemplary.

Pupils demonstrate kindness and respect towards their peers. There are warm relationships between staff and pupils.

Pupils know they are safe and can name a trusted adult they would talk to if they were worried about anything.

Bullying is rare, but if it happens, pupils know it will be dealt with appropriately by staff.

Leaders have a clear and ambitious vision for the school and are determined all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), will achieve their full potential. The school has established a curriculum t...hat helps pupils to secure a deep knowledge of each subject.

Pupils achieve highly in all areas of the curriculum, and parents and carers praise the education their children receive.

The school provides a wide range of extra-curricular activities for pupils. This includes after-school clubs for tag rugby and cookery, for example.

It ensures all pupils have access to these clubs, offering free places to support attendance. Additionally, the school invites visitors to enrich the curriculum, including authors and theatre groups. There are also trips throughout the school year, for example to museums and art galleries and places of worship.

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

Pupils receive a high-quality curriculum across all subjects. Subject content is set out in a way that enables them to recall and build on previous knowledge, ensuring they are ready for the next stage of their education. For example, in Nursery, children learn about seeds and how to care for them to promote growth.

In Reception, they learn that different seeds grow into different plants at varying speeds. This knowledge prepares them for learning about the different parts of a plant in Year 1.

In the early years, children are introduced to key vocabulary, and a love of reading.

The teaching of early reading begins in Nursery as children learn rhymes and songs, with phonics teaching starting in Reception. Staff know how to help pupils learn to read fluently and with confidence. The phonics programme has been carefully selected to match the needs of pupils, and their progress is carefully tracked.

If any pupils fall behind, they are offered additional support to catch up quickly.

Teachers present information clearly, ensuring pupils are taught both knowledge and skills in all areas of the curriculum. For example, in geography in Year 2, pupils learn about temperatures in the North Pole and also record changing temperatures in the local area during fieldwork.

In physical education (PE), enrichment of the subject is provided through opportunities for competition, allowing as many pupils as possible to represent their class or school.

Pupils know about equality and diversity and talk about how the school's 'Diverse Britain' curriculum helps them to understand the importance of these concepts. For example, this curriculum enables pupils to explore and celebrate the contributions of immigrants to both the local and wider community.

The school has the same ambitious goals for pupils with SEND as all other pupils. The aim is that all pupils should be able to progress well through a clear and responsive curriculum, with appropriate adaptations, and lessons delivered skilfully by well-trained staff. Pupils are supported highly effectively to achieve these aims through interventions, support from outside agencies and personalised learning.

Pupils are keen to learn and behave exceptionally well. In lessons, they are enthusiastic participants. The school's focus on speaking skills means that pupils are constantly encouraged to practise their debating skills across different subjects and can express concepts and ideas clearly.

The school enjoys high levels of attendance, which it is working hard to maintain. Pupils are given rewards for good attendance, including certificates during a celebration assembly at the end of every half term. Pupils are very positive about the school.

For example, one pupil said: 'Everyone enjoys being in school; that's why they come.'

Pupils are proud of the different ways they contribute to the life of the school and to the local community. For example, they can become members of the green team, who litter pick in the local area and maintain a section of the school garden, or they can be sports leader and organise games in the playground.

They enjoy various school trips and workshops; older pupils were particularly excited about the Year 6 residential visit to Kent.

Governors understand the systems for safeguarding at the school, know the school well and hold leaders to account. Staff are hugely positive about the school.

They know their well-being and workload are considered. They appreciate all the training opportunities offered to them.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.