St Mary’s Catholic School, Penzance

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders are ambitious and rigorous in their actions. They have successfully addressed the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. The quality of education has improved rapidly and is now good.

The headteacher is an outstanding leader. Her high expectations and vision permeate the school. As a result, pupils achieve well, and morale is high.

Leaders, including governors and trustees, have an accurate view of the school's strengths and weaknesses. They use their evaluations well to set the right priorities for improvement. Middle and senior leaders are effective in holding other teachers to account.

The development of all... leaders has been instrumental in securing the necessary improvements. The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good. Consequently, pupils typically make good progress, including disadvantaged pupils.

Only some minor inconsistencies remain., Very occasionally agreed actions for targeted pupils are not implemented. This slows the progress of a few identified pupils.

Safeguarding arrangements are effective. Leaders implement a high-quality curriculum. A broad range of experiences adds depth and meaning to the school day.

Consequently, pupils are motivated and enjoy their learning. Pupils conduct themselves well in lessons and around the school. They willingly act as ambassadors and contribute well to the day-to-day running of the school.

The quality of early years provision is good. Staff help children to settle quickly and make strong progress across the curriculum. Therefore, children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning.

Leaders gather a wide range of useful information about pupils and know individuals well. Leaders' plans and actions occasionally lack precision to secure even better progress for identified pupils. Despite ongoing improvement, relative weaknesses in the teaching of spelling, punctuation and grammar slow the progress of some prior low- and middle-attaining pupils.

Absence rates remain too high, particularly for pupils who speak English as an additional language (EAL). Parents are overwhelming positive about the school. The recognise the dramatic improvements that have been made.

Information about this school

St Mary's Catholic Primary School is smaller than the average-sized primary school. It is part of the Plymouth CAST multi-academy trust. The trust was formed on 1 April 2014.

Currently the school is being governed by an IAB consisting of three members. The IAB acts with the legal powers delegated through the trust's structure. A 'shadow local governing body' is also installed.

Local governors have been trained and supported to resume full control of the school on 12 October 2018. The school has a Nursery as part of the early years provision. Currently there is no provision for two-year-olds.

Most children transfer to the full-time Reception class at the end of their time in Nursery. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for the pupil premium funding is above the national average. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is similar to the national average.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is below the national average. However, the number in this group is increasing, particularly through representation from eastern European countries. The school runs a wide range of extra-curricular clubs and activities, including a daily breakfast and after-school club.