St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Anderton

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Anderton continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

St Joseph's is a friendly school. Pupils are well supported by caring staff who greet pupils warmly each morning.

The pupils that I spoke to said that they feel safe and happy. Pupils rarely miss a day at school.

Teachers have high expectations of themselves and the pupils they teach.

Pupils work hard and stay focused on their learning. They enjoy working together. They share ideas and listen to each other.

They respect the ideas and views of others.

Pupils behave well. They follow the school's behaviour code.

They manage t...heir own behaviour well. Pupils know what bullying is. They said that it rarely happens.

If it ever did, they are confident that staff would deal with it.

Staff make sure that pupils have access to a wide range of activities in the playground. Pupils enjoy using the outdoor classroom and the polytunnel.

They also appreciate the wide range of playtime equipment that they can use, especially the table tennis table. Pupils play well together and are happy in each other's company. They have many friends.

Pupils told me that they value the roles and responsibilities they are given. They also enjoy representing the school in sporting competitions.

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

The school is well led and managed.

Leaders act quickly to make sure that weaknesses do not take root. They are ambitious that all pupils will achieve their potential. Staff meet the needs of all pupils well.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported to be successful. Pupils achieve well in a range of subjects from the early years through to Year 6. They are well prepared for secondary school.

Leaders have identified what they want pupils to know at certain points in their education. They have used this to plan an ambitious and interesting curriculum which builds upon pupils' skills and knowledge. Pupils enjoy their learning.

They listen carefully to their teachers. Pupils' learning is rarely disrupted by poor behaviour.

Leaders have made sure that pupils develop a love of reading.

Pupils read regularly and enjoy picking books from the school libraries. Leaders have also chosen texts carefully so that they are well matched to the curriculum. Pupils explained how a class novel had supported their understanding of the canopy layers in the rainforest.

Children learn to read as soon as they enter the early years. The phonics curriculum is well ordered. Staff have been well trained so that they can deliver the phonics programme effectively.

Staff provide extra support for pupils who need to catch up. As a result, most pupils achieve the expected standard in the Year 1 phonics screening check. Despite pupils having a secure knowledge of letters and the sounds that they represent, some pupils read books that are too difficult for them.

This is because they do not have a secure enough understanding of those words that cannot always be sounded out.

Leaders have strengthened the mathematics curriculum. It is clear what pupils should learn and how leaders expect staff to teach.

From an early age, children enjoy mathematics. This is because staff plan fun and interesting activities. For some older pupils, activities are not well matched to their mathematical understanding.

This means that they struggle to complete the work set. This stops them from building their mathematical knowledge as well as they should.

The promotion of pupils' personal development is strong.

Teachers plan opportunities for pupils to reflect and put into practice the Christian values of the school. Pupils are tolerant of different faiths and families. They respect each other's differences.

Pupils told me: 'Everyone is unique; even twins, who look the same, have different hearts.'

Older pupils are encouraged to take on responsibilities. This prepares them well for the next stage in their education.

For example, the buddy system helps younger pupils to feel safe and secure.

Pupils understand what it means to be mentally and physically healthy. Leaders have made sure that there is a good range of sports clubs and activities on offer.

Pupils enjoy taking part in these and representing the school in different competitions.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders have made sure that keeping pupils safe is a priority.

Staff have regular training. This helps them to carry out their roles effectively. Staff know what to do if they think a pupil may be at risk.

They act quickly if they have concerns about a pupil's safety.

Policies and procedures are thorough and well established. Leaders make sure that all staff go through the required checks before they start work at the school.

New staff have a good understanding of the school's systems and procedures.

Leaders know their pupils and families well. They work effectively with external agencies to make sure that pupils are kept safe.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

Phonics is taught well. Most pupils reach the expected standard in the Year 1 phonics screening check. However, some of the books that pupils read are too difficult for them.

This means that they are unable to read fluently. Teachers need to make sure that pupils know the words that cannot be easily sounded out more securely before moving on to books that contain such tricky words. .

Activities in some mathematics lessons do not match pupils' present understanding. Pupils do not have the knowledge to be able to tackle this new work. As a result, they are not able to further their mathematical understanding in line with the school's planned curriculum.

Leaders should ensure that the planned curriculum is delivered in the intended way in all classrooms. They should ensure that teachers check carefully what pupils can and cannot do before they move them on to new mathematical concepts.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called a section 8 inspection of a good school or non-exempt outstanding school. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection. However, if we find some evidence that the school could now be better than good or that standards may be declining, then the next inspection will be a section 5 inspection.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the section 8 inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will convert the section 8 inspection to a section 5 inspection immediately.

This is the second section 8 inspection since we judged the school to be good on 22 November 2010.