St Luke’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a school where pupils learn to be themselves, to respect difference and to speak out when they see injustice. Pupils behave exceptionally well. For instance, through their words and actions, they show considerable care and kindness towards others.

The school deliberately teaches pupils to understand the contribution of different people to the richness of modern culture. For example, pupils recently listened to and learned about the music of the symphonic composer Florence Price.

Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), said that the school cares about them.

Pupils respond to the school's high expectations for ...their academic outcomes. They achieve well. Pupils enjoy their learning and they are happy at school.

Pupils told the inspectors that their many opportunities to take part in dramatic performances at the school help to build their confidence.

The school inspires pupils to broaden their knowledge and skills. For example, pupils learn to ride a bicycle and to play musical instruments.

Many pupils hold positions of responsibility such as mini-medics, anti-bullying ambassadors or members of the school council. A high proportion of pupils at the school benefit from opportunities to attend extra-curricular activities such as athletics, choir and darts and the before- and after-school clubs.

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

Over time, leaders at all levels, staff and the governing body have successfully sustained the school's work to provide pupils with a good education.

This has been achieved through teamwork, mutual challenge, review and the skilful refinement of the school's curriculum.

The school provides staff with valuable training opportunities. It ensures that staff learn from the work of colleagues in other schools and benefit from the advice that they receive from external education experts.

In the early years, staff draw on their learning from educational research to support children's thinking skills in ever deeper ways. Staff understand the content of the school's curriculum and they know how to deliver it meaningfully to pupils.

Teachers and teaching assistants find that this school is a rewarding place to work.

Right from the start of the early years, children learn to be deeply considerate towards other people. Pupils' excellent behaviour means that staff can focus on the joy of teaching. The school does all it can to support parents and carers to ensure that pupils attend school when they should.

As a result of its clear curricular thinking, the school has identified the key knowledge that pupils should learn. Staff introduce pupils to essential concepts and information in a logical and coherent order. Pupils are well-equipped to learn in depth.

The school prepares pupils well for the next stage of their education.Teachers make effective use of assessment strategies to review pupils' learning. They act to provide pupils with extra help to understand their work.

In the main, pupils, including those with SEND, achieve well in different subjects. Nevertheless, the school sometimes does not ensure that staff help pupils to remember some key knowledge. This means that, at times, some information does not stay in pupils' long-term memory.

The school makes sure that staff develop and assess pupils' phonics knowledge effectively. Staff support weaker readers competently, so that pupils learn the precise letter sounds and words that they need to know. Pupils become independent readers and spellers.

Many read with skill, ease and confidence.

Pupils develop their understanding of fiction and non-fiction books, including the books that teachers carefully select to read aloud to them. This work starts successfully in the Reception Year.

Older pupils recommend books that they have read to their peers, giving articulate reasons for their choices. The school celebrates the skill and joy of reading as crucial to pupils' future success. Pupils love reading.

The school identifies pupils with SEND quickly and accurately. It ensures that staff make subtle but important changes to their delivery of subject curriculums to match pupils' needs. As a result, pupils with SEND love school and progress well through the curriculum.

The school prepares pupils exceptionally well for wider aspects of their future lives. For example, older pupils in key stage 2 learn what makes for a healthy relationship with someone else. Pupils benefit greatly from the school's carefully considered residential trips.

They learn much from educational visits, such as to local places of worship, museums and a philharmonic orchestra. They also learn about key features of the local village, pinewoods and beach. The school's system of buddying older pupils with younger pupils over three years is particularly innovative.

It is successful in building friendship and a sense of community between pupils. As a result, pupils are wonderfully prepared to be responsible British citizens.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Sometimes, in a small number of subjects, the school does not ensure that staff help pupils to remember what they have learned previously. This means that, on occasion, some aspects of pupils' learning are less secure. The school should make sure that staff help pupils to know and remember the essential knowledge that they have been taught.

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