St Mary’s RC Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The executive headteacher has brought a new life to the school which has prompted a significant change in the pace of improvement.

Her passion and enthusiasm for pupils to achieve their very best have inspired the school community. Federation arrangements between St Mary's RC Primary School and St Joseph's RC Primary School have led to a significant improvement in leadership at all levels. Skilled leaders work alongside colleagues effectively to improve the quality of teaching.

Pupils' outcomes at the end of the early years and at the end of key stage 1 have risen steadily over recent years and are above average. Standards at key stage 2 ...have proved harder to raise. As a result of the significant increase in the rate of pupils' progress during the last academic year, standards in key stage 2 are now rising rapidly.

The quality of teaching is good. Teachers have high expectations, know their subjects well and plan learning that engages pupils. Pupils are polite and respectful towards each other and adults.

They behave well in lessons, moving around the school quietly, and displaying good manners. Pupils feel safe in school. They know about the measures that are in place to support them.

They know they can talk to any of the adults in school or approach the 'carefree kids' worker to discuss any concerns they may have. Children make a good start in the early years. Expectations of what they will achieve are high.

They are well prepared for Year 1. The governing body has a good understanding of the school's strengths and priorities for improvement. Governors are well qualified to support and challenge leaders.

Parents speak highly of the considerable change they have noted in the school's leadership and the impact it has had on pupils' experience in the classroom and on the progress they make. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils' performance by the end of key stage 2 is not yet consistently strong. A small gap between the performance of disadvantaged pupils and that of others remains.

Too few pupils attain the higher levels by the end of key stage 2.

Information about this school

There have been significant changes to the school's leadership since the last inspection. The executive headteacher and associate head of school were appointed in June 2015 following a period of interim leadership arrangements.

The majority of teaching staff began their roles in September 2015. The school is a member of a soft federation with St Joseph's RC Primary School. The same executive headteacher leads both schools.

The executive headteacher is a national leader of education. The chair of the governing body is a national leader of governance. The school is larger than the average-sized primary school.

A section 48 inspection of religious education did not take place at the same time as this inspection. The school meets the requirements for the publication of specified information on its website. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations of pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics.