St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

Children get an exceptionally good start to their education in the early years classes where they develop skills especially well. Excellent use is made of both the inside and outdoor learning areas to enthuse and excite children about their learning. Pupils make extremely rapid progress in reading, writing and mathematics as they move through the school.

Many pupils start in school with skills weaker than is typical for their age, but they reach above average standards by the end of Key Stage 2. Teachers' excellent subject knowledge enables them to move pupils forward quickly in their learning. They ask searching questions to che...ck pupils' understanding and develop deeper knowledge.

Teachers are clear what each pupil needs to do next and communicate this clearly. As a result, pupils who are ready to move on rapidly do so, while others receive the guidance they need to make the best progress they can. Pupils' behaviour in and around school is exemplary.

They are extremely enthusiastic about their learning and proud of their school. This is reflected in the care they take in their work and the way they treat school resources, equipment and each other. Pupils feel very safe in the caring and nurturing environment provided by the school.

They have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe in different situations outside school, such as on the roads and when using the internet. Under the calm, purposeful leadership and drive of the headteacher, the school has continued to improve over recent years. He, the deputy headteacher and other leaders ensure that teaching is consistently of a high standard.

The academy committee rigorously checks how well the school is doing. Committee members ask senior leaders challenging questions and visit regularly to see for themselves. They share the headteacher's and deputy headteacher's high aspirations for continual improvement.

The headteacher and a few other leaders provide effective support to other schools. Not all leaders have honed their skills sufficiently to be in a position to do this. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is especially strong.

Pupils of all backgrounds and faiths embrace the values of the school and see themselves as a 'family'. Pupils talk confidently about their own religions and the need to respect each other's different views and beliefs. They all feel highly valued and appreciate that the diversity in the school is celebrated.

Information about this school

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School converted to become an academy school on 1 September 2013. When its predecessor school, also known as St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, was last inspected by Ofsted it was judged to be good overall. The school is part of the St John Bosco Catholic Academy which includes two other local catholic schools.

It is led by the principal and vice-principal, who are known in the school as the headteacher and deputy headteacher. The school is governed by the academy committee which comprises members of the St John Bosco Catholic Academy board of directors, parents, members of staff and representatives of the church and local community. The school is an average-sized primary school.

Children in the early years start in a part-time Nursery class when they are three years old. Children move to the full-time Reception class at the beginning of the year in which they are five. Approximately two thirds of the children in the Reception class have previously attended the school's Nursery.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and the proportion who speak English as an additional language are well above average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is broadly average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils (those supported by the pupil premium, which is additional funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or looked after by the local authority) is above average.

The school has been recognised by the local authority as a 'centre for developing mathematics'. Senior leaders and some subject leaders support other schools in developing their leadership and teaching skills. The school exceeds the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6.