St Mark’s Catholic Primary School, Westerhope

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders and governors are uncompromising in their ambition. They have created a culture in which everyone strives to achieve. As a result, outcomes are rising and differences in attainment between different groups are diminishing.

Leaders are demonstrating the capacity to sustain the school's improvement. Provision for pupils' personal development is outstanding. Pupils feel very safe.

They grow and mature into kind, thoughtful and responsible young people. The outstanding early years provision ensures that children make rapid progress. The addition of the Nursery has strengthened early years provision and ensures that children get off to... an excellent start.

Reading is taught effectively across the school. Almost all pupils attain the standard in the national phonics screening check. A carefully structured programme ensures that pupils develop strong reading skills as they progress through the school.

The quality of teaching is good. Teachers provide a structured programme of learning in English and mathematics. This helps most pupils to make good progress and an increasing proportion to make excellent progress.

Occasionally, lessons develop too slowly, and at times, the tightly structured teaching inhibits some pupils from achieving their potential in writing. Most pupils make strong progress in mathematics. However, pupils do not get enough opportunities to apply their mathematical knowledge to solving problems.

Leaders are successfully refining the already broad and balanced curriculum. The content taught within most subject areas challenges pupils effectively. There are good opportunities for pupils to learn modern foreign languages.

Planning in a few subject areas does not fully support pupils' progress in knowledge. Leaders are raising the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. Excellent support helps pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and pupils who speak English as an additional language to make strong progress.

Behaviour in the school is outstanding. Pupils manage their own behaviour, show positive attitudes and are kind towards one another. Attendance is in line with the national average.

Leaders have rapidly reduced the proportion of pupils who are persistently absent.

Information about this school

St Mark's RC Primary School is smaller than the average-sized primary school. A broadly average proportion of pupils are from minority ethnic groups and an average proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for support through the pupil premium is above the national average. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is above the national average. An average proportion of pupils have an education, health and care plan.

The school runs its own breakfast club. The school has offered Nursery provision from September 2016. Children can attend on a part-time or full-time basis.