St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Oxford

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher has created a vibrant school that is ambitious for all pupils. She is supported extremely well by staff who share her vision of providing pupils with a stimulating and varied curriculum. They work with dedication to ensure that pupils learn successfully.

Governors are experienced and skilled in fulfilling their duties. They demonstrate strong commitment to the school's ethos and use their knowledge and expertise to hold leaders to account. Governors are effective because of their accurate understanding of the school.

Staff are proud to be part of the school's team. They value the opportunities they have to develop engaging... learning activities and have benefited from relevant, high-quality training. Leaders have ensured that teaching, learning and assessment are consistently good.

This has been achieved despite considerable changes in staffing. However, there is some variability in the quality of the teaching. Leaders ensure that pupils have access to a rich curriculum.

This is a particular strength of the school. However, subject-specific knowledge and skills are not effectively sequenced to ensure that pupils build on prior learning. Pupils' spiritual, social, moral and cultural (SMSC) understanding is exceptionally well developed.

School leaders are wholly committed to broadening pupils' understanding of the world. They ensure that pupils have thought-provoking learning activities that develop their ability to reflect and to form their own views. Current pupils make strong progress.

By the end of key stage 2, pupils attain highly and make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Attainment for disadvantaged pupils is strong and improving. Equally, pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve well because of the support they receive.

Pupils behave well. They conduct themselves responsibly and show respect for others. They attend school well.

The early years provision is excellent. Children savour the rich experiences that are planned for them. They make strong and sustained progress because of consistently effective teaching.

Teachers' skilled use of assessment supports children's learning very well. Many parents and carers praise the school's stimulating and caring provision for their children.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized primary school.

It has no nursery provision. Around 30% of pupils are White British. The school has 15 out of 17 possible ethnic groups.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is above the national average and so is the proportion who speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils entitled to the pupil premium is below the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is in line with the national figure.

There is a breakfast club and a variety of after-school clubs and activities. These are managed by the governing body. The school received its most recent section 48 inspection in June 2019.