St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Wallasey

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher and governors are united by a vision of nurture and care for pupils at the school. This approach is underpinned by strong Christian values that promote equality well.

Senior leaders and governors have ensured that effective action has been taken to improve the quality of the curriculum. Subject leaders have been provided with support to improve the quality of teaching and learning in all subjects. Teachers are positive about the support that they have received to improve their skills in subjects across the curriculum, including English and mathematics.

Teachers skilfully address pupils' misconceptions by re-shaping tasks. ...However, activities are not always challenging enough for the most able pupils in history and geography. Pupils make good progress, often from low starting points, in reading, writing and mathematics.

However, some pupils struggle to spell and use grammar accurately in their written work. Leaders have brought greater consistency to the quality of teaching. For example, an improvement in the teaching of phonics has ensured that all groups of pupils are progressing well with their reading skills.

Leaders' use of the pupil premium funding has improved engagement with parents and carers. It has also been used effectively to support pupils' early speech and language. Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Pupils say that they feel safe. Staff give pupils effective support for their personal development. Children make good progress in early years.

The targets set for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do not match their needs. It is unclear whether these pupils progress as well as they could. More pupils now attain the higher standard in their reading and greater depth in writing at the end of key stage 2.

However, not enough pupils attain the higher standard in mathematics.

Information about this school

St Joseph's is an average-sized, Roman Catholic primary school. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is above the national average.

The large majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils identified with SEND is above average. In September 2017, governors extended the Nursery provision to cater for two-year-old children.

The school's breakfast club provision is run on behalf of the governing body on the school site from 7.30am. The school's most recent section 48 inspection for schools with a religious character took place in October 2015.