St Mary’s RC Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Achievement is outstanding. Pupils leave the school with well above average standards in English and mathematics.

All groups of pupils make outstanding progress from broadly typical starting points on entry to the nursery class. Teaching is frequently outstanding and never less than good. The school provides very well for those children with additional or specialist learning needs.

The range of learning opportunities is excellent, but within this, the learning environment within the Early Years Foundation Stage is underdeveloped. It does not sufficiently stimulate children's creativity, language skills, or curiosity for learning.... Behaviour is outstanding.

Pupils are very involved in ensuring that behaviour remains outstanding across the school. Pupils feel safe in school. Teachers responsible for particular areas of the curriculum have very good specialist subject knowledge.

The school is very good at helping teachers and other adult assistants to improve their practice, and has high expectations of them. Leaders and managers, and especially the headteacher and governors, have a very clear understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses and have driven significant improvement forward since the previous inspection. The school has a very positive atmosphere, in which learning, sharing and caring for each other are highly valued and demonstrated.

Information about this school

This is an average-sized primary school, with a well-above average number of girls. The vast majority of pupils are of White British heritage, with a very few whose first language is not English. There is a very small group of pupils from Traveller families.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action is above average, and the proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational need is well below average. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium (the additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, for children in local authority care and for pupils with a parent in the armed forces) is average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.