St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Over time, leaders have supported staff to improve the quality of teaching and learning. This has been effective and, consequently, pupils' progress is good or improving across a wide range of subjects.

Leaders' whole-school improvement plan focuses accurately on the key priorities of the school. However, the plan needs to be more specific in its measures of success. Governors have an accurate view of the school.

Because of this, they can both support and challenge leaders. Subject leaders are effective in their role. They support other staff to improve outcomes in their area of responsibility.

Teachers' secure subject knowledge ...contributes to the quality of the teaching, which is good. However, at times, there is a lack of challenge for the most able pupils. Teaching assistants make a very good contribution to pupils' learning.

They give good support to pupils, especially those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children in the early years make good progress. This is because of effective leadership and good teaching.

However, the questioning skills of staff are insufficiently challenging the most able to extend their learning. The curriculum is broad and balanced, with interesting experiences for pupils. Because of this, pupils have positive attitudes to learning.

However, they do not always have enough opportunities to use their writing and mathematical skills across the whole curriculum. Leaders use the physical education and sport premium well. Pupils are active and enjoy sport.

There is strong safeguarding culture across the school. Pupils are kept safe. The development of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding is a strength of the school.

As a result, the school prepares pupils well for life in modern Britain. Pupils are very friendly, well-mannered and polite. Pupils treat each other and adults with respect.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized Roman Catholic primary school. The school's most recent section 48 inspection for schools with a religious character took place in November 2016. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils, those known to be eligible for support through pupil premium funding, is below average.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is below the national average. The proportion of pupils identified with SEND, and those who have an education, health and care plan, is below the national average. The local authority and a national leader of education have supported the school.

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