St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school This school has rapidly improved. The executive headteacher has communicated a clear vision and high expectations of staff and pupils. Staff have benefited from training and support provided by a local partner school.

There is a strong sense of teamwork across the school. Because teaching has improved significantly, progress is accelerating and more pupils are reaching standards typical of their age. Senior leaders have established effective assessment systems to identify pupils whose learning needs extra support.

Consequently these pupils are catching up with their peers. Behaviour is now consistently good in lessons and around school. P...upils' good learning attitudes are a major strength.

Lessons proceed smoothly and time is used well. Pupils make good use of the constructive feedback they receive from teachers. The lively curriculum, drawing on first-hand learning experiences, has sparked pupils' interest and motivation.

The school's promotion of the Catholic values of care, tolerance and respect makes a strong contribution to pupils' personal development. The governing body works effectively with leaders and staff. Governors are well informed and able to check development is moving in the right direction.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : In the early years, children do not have sufficient opportunities to develop language or have equal access to physical, constructional and investigational activities outside. At times there is a lack of urgency in producing written work. The teaching of handwriting lacks a cohesive approach which makes some work untidy.

Some pupils are not confident about speaking aloud in front of others about their learning. The teaching of phonics (letters and the sounds that they make) to support reading and spelling is not yet fully developed.

Information about this school

This school is larger than the average-sized primary school but it is in the process of moving from a two-form to a one-form entry school.

The majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is slightly higher than average (the pupil premium is additional funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, and children looked after by the local authority). The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is broadly typical.

The proportion of pupils with statements of special educational needs, or education, health and care plans, is below the national average. The school meets the current floor standards that set out the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. Children in the early years attend part time in Nursery and full time in Reception.

At the time of inspection the school was due to convert on 1 July 2016 to an academy within the Catholic Schools Partnership of Bradford and Keighley. The executive headteacher, who is also the headteacher of Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School, was appointed in September 2015. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.

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