St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at this exceptional school. Kindness is at the centre of the culture. Pupils are confident, polite, and extremely hard working.

They have a passion for learning and are very happy in school.

Working relationships between staff and pupils are entirely positive. Staff know their pupils very well.

This ensures pupils are safe in school. Staff have high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This enables pupils to excel.

Pupils' behaviour during lessons and around the school site is exemplary. They are rightly proud of their school and support each other well. Leaders focus on... the development of pupils' character.

The Catholic ethos in the school is pivotal to the values. Pupils understand these well and embody them through their actions.

Pupils have access to an extremely broad range of wider opportunities in the school.

Most pupils access the many clubs on offer. There is an extremely broad range of sports teams to take part in including taekwondo, hockey and Gaelic football. Many pupils learn musical instruments and there are a wide range of performance opportunities.

Pupils support a number of local and national charities through funding raising activities and collections for the local foodbank.

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

Leaders have developed a highly ambitious curriculum that supports all pupils, including those with SEND, to achieve well. This is because knowledge is well-sequenced to deepen pupils' understanding over time.

For example, in mathematics, leaders have identified and developed specific areas of the curriculum to ensure pupils know and remember more. Several new strategies have been put in place to improve pupils' retention of knowledge. As a result, the impact in mathematics is extremely strong, in line with other subjects in the school.

Teachers have strong subject knowledge and present information very clearly. They make extremely effective adaptations to ensure that pupils with SEND access the curriculum successfully. Teachers routinely check pupils' understanding and address any misconceptions swiftly.

This ensures that all pupils have a secure understanding before moving onto new learning. In early years, teachers are highly skilled at ensuring children develop their communication skills. Staff continuously develop and embed the children's vocabulary through a wide range of well-chosen activities.

Leaders have placed a sharp focus on the teaching of early reading. All staff are well trained in delivering the phonics programme. Staff teach phonics consistently to a high standard.

They continuously check pupils' understanding and swiftly put support in place to ensure pupils do not fall behind the pace of the programme.

Pupils regularly read a wide range of texts. Books that pupils take home are matched closely to the phonic sounds that they know.

Pupils are confident reading out loud and do so with expression and enthusiasm. They demonstrate a genuine love of reading. Leaders work closely with parents and carers to ensure they are able to support their children to read at home.

Pupils have exceptional attitudes to their learning. They are focussed, enthusiastic and resilient if they find something difficult. Children in early years are highly motivated.

They share well and show respect for each other. The attendance of pupils in school is extremely high. Leaders work effectively with parents and have robust strategies in place to ensure that pupils attend school regularly.

The school's personal development curriculum has been coherently planned to ensure that pupils' knowledge and understanding deepen and build over time. For example, pupils develop a strong understanding of how to stay healthy and safe, including online.

Pupils attend a very broad range of outings each year.

These are extremely well planned to ensure these visits further enhance the ambitious curriculum and support pupils to develop other important character traits. Pupils readily take on leadership roles, including as student chaplains or digital leaders.

Leaders have developed a comprehensive professional development programme.

This leads to sustained and continuous improvement in the quality of education. The governing body understands the strengths and priorities of the school and carries out its role effectively.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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